Hannah Waddingham has become instantly recognizable thanks to her commanding screen presence, glamorous red-carpet style and signature platinum-blonde hair. But long before Ted Lasso turned her into an international star, the British actress experimented with dramatically different looks.
One of her most striking transformations came in 2017. At the opening night of the musical 42nd Street in London, Waddingham appeared with soft reddish hair swept into an elegant low updo — a dramatic contrast to the bright, cropped blonde style fans associate with her today.
The warmer shade completely changed her appearance, emphasizing her eyes and facial features. Looking back at the photos now, some fans might need a second glance before recognizing the actress behind Rebecca Welton.
That wasn’t her only hair experiment. During the same period, Waddingham was also seen with blonde bangs, while her extensive theater career has required her to wear everything from voluminous curls to elaborate wigs. For her role in 12 Monkeys, she appeared with noticeably darker reddish-brown hair.
Despite all those transformations, Waddingham has repeatedly returned to blonde. Since her breakthrough on Ted Lasso, the icy platinum shade paired with a shorter cut has become an unmistakable part of her public image.
Her wardrobe, however, has remained far less predictable. Waddingham regularly experiments with bold colors, dramatic silhouettes and sparkling fabrics, turning premieres and award ceremonies into opportunities to showcase a completely different side of her style.
That confidence has deeper roots. Waddingham has previously spoken about how her height and body type once left some casting directors unsure where she fit. Rather than allowing those expectations to define her career, she eventually decided she wasn’t interested in accepting insignificant roles simply because she should feel grateful to be included.
Years later, that determination has clearly paid off. Whether she’s wearing her familiar platinum crop or revisiting one of the dramatically different hairstyles from her past, Waddingham has proved that her presence has never depended on one signature look.
