It often takes one incident and a bit of intense stubbornness to reach a certain level of success. Taking a trip down her memory lane, Game of Thrones star Hannah Waddingham thus made a rare confession about that one incident that had a lasting impression on her career.
Propelling to fame with different acclaimed projects, Hannah Waddingham soon became an integral part of the entertainment industry. But during her initial years, the actress had a defining moment with her former drama teacher who bullied her for her appearance. This particular incident had such an impact on her, that Waddingham pledged to find success.
Hannah Waddingham Recalled Being Bullied by Her Teacher
Belonging to South London, Hannah Waddingham has often appeared in English films more than Hollywood projects. But that didn’t limit her success or fame, on a global scale. Achieving popularity for her appearance in acclaimed projects like Game of Thrones, Ted Lasso, Sex Education, and more, the actress soon became a household name.
However, despite her groundbreaking success, even Hannah Waddingham had a few incidents in her life that nearly shattered her. Recalling one such terrible incident during her appearance on Michelle Visage’s BBC podcast, Waddingham confessed how she was bullied by her former drama teacher for her appearance.
“I had one drama teacher that said to the whole class: ‘Oh Hannah will never work on screen because she looks like one side of her face has had a stroke,’”
This heartbreaking comment from her mentor broke her heart into a million pieces. Hannah Waddingham further confessed how her teacher’s comments filled her with complexities and insecurities instead of confidence. But then, while the remarks on her appearance scarred her heart, the defining moment had a major impact on Waddingham’s career.
The Defining Moment That Filled Hannah Waddingham With Zeal
Discussing during the podcast, Hannah Waddingham weighed in on her career journey and noted how her drama teachers mocked her looks in front of the entire class and asserted that she could never work on-screen. But somehow this very incident spurred her and filled her with zeal and stubbornness to prove her teacher wrong and pave her career.
“I thought, I will do. Come hell or high water, I will work on screen.”
Also read: INTERVIEW: Hannah Waddingham and Jeremy Swift Talk Ted Lasso
Confessing how she turned her teacher’s mockery into a career-boosting inspiration, Hannah Waddingham claimed the comments initially “gave me a complex for years”. But then she made her breakthrough on screen and went on to win an Emmy, a Critics’ Choice Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
“This is why, in my Emmys speech, I made a point – the one thing I said to myself [was] if this weird moment comes and I get this award, and I get my foot in this door, I’m going to rip it off its hinges for music theatre people, or theatre people, to follow.”
Hannah Waddingham finally concluded by stating that her teacher would have never imagined that those hurtful remarks would be “helpful or positive or aspirational” to the actress. “I would say that was my biggest rule break ever – to go, ‘You know what? I’m just going to see.’” Waddingham shared how she pledged to become successful.
Thereafter, through hardship, dedication, and sheer commitment, Hannah Waddingham turned into an icon and an onscreen inspiration for many.
