Hannah Waddingham is stepping into the spotlight in more ways than one.
The “Ted Lasso” star will be campaigned for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series during the upcoming awards season, Deadline reports exclusively. The change marks a major shift for Waddingham, who was submitted in the supporting categories for each of the show’s first three seasons.
The move reflects her character’s bigger role in Season 4. Rebecca Welton, the owner of AFC Richmond, took center stage this season as the driving force behind the club’s new women’s team.
Waddingham has already been recognized for the role. She earned three Emmy nominations for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, winning the award in 2021. She also picked up two Golden Globe nominations in the supporting TV actress category and two Actor Award nominations for her work on the show.
If she lands another Emmy nomination in the lead category, Waddingham will join a small group of performers who have been nominated in both the supporting and lead categories for the same show. That list includes Allison Janney, who did it for both “The West Wing” and “Mom,” and Jon Cryer, who won in both categories for “Two and a Half Men.”
Not every original cast member is making the jump. Juno Temple, who plays Rebecca’s best friend, Keeley Jones, and was nominated alongside Waddingham in the supporting category for the first three seasons, will continue campaigning as a supporting actress.
Waddingham’s switch fits the theme of the show’s latest chapter, which has focused on women breaking barriers and redefining leadership.
Beyond “Ted Lasso,” Waddingham has stayed busy. Her recent credits include the Prime Video series “Ride or Die” and the films “The Woman in Cabin 10,” “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” “Lilo & Stitch” and “Smurfs.” She will also be honored with the Crystal Award for Advocacy in TV at the 2026 Women in Film Honors on Nov. 5 at The Beverly Hilton.