Why Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham is keeping her Emmy in her daughter's room

With the cast and team behind Apple TV+'s delightful Ted Lasso looking to sweep the 73rd Annual Emmy Awards tonight, it was a special win when Hannah Waddingham – who plays the quick-to-melt ice queen Rebecca – took to the stage to accept her win for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

During her acceptance speech, Waddingham sent a big thank you to show creator and co-star Jason Sudeikis, telling him, “You changed my life with this and, more importantly, my baby girl’s.”

The British actress is a single mother to daughter Kitty, whose sudden and "horrific" experience with HSP is what pushed her to audition for the show to begin with. Waddingham shared the news just weeks ago on the podcast White Wine Question Time with Kate Thornton, and said she had hoped for a job to come along that would keep her close to her daughter and at home, and allow her to, basically, flex all her acting muscles. Two months later came her Ted Lasso audition.

Backstage, after accepting her Emmy, Waddingham shared, "My little girl and I have become such a little unit because I am a single mum. And I just wanted to say to her that she can have this in her bedroom to show her that her mummy will only ever be away when it's for a really, blooming good reason."

She added, "I think it shows her, when she's older, she just has to fight that little bit harder and magical things happen."

In her on-stage speech, Waddingham also thanked the writer's room, saying, “The thing that’s charming about you, all of you, is that you don’t realize how wonderful you are. I just don’t think people realize what you bring to the room when we’re all quiet together. I am so grateful to even be in your gaggle.”

And, of course, her co-star, Juno Temple, with whom she shares a charming on- and off- screen friendship. As Waddingham said, “There’s no Rebecca without Keeley.”

After thanking her parents and friends, she said, "This single mum wouldn't be standing here without you," and added, "West End musical performers need to be on screen more. Please give them a chance cause we won't let you down."

This is the actress's first Emmy nomination. She shared the category with Temple, Kate McKinnon, Hannah Einbinder, Aidy Bryant, Rosie Perez and Cecily Strong.

BEFORE YOU GO: Seth Rogen Was Promised The Emmys Would Be Outdoors

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