Why Hannah Waddingham Brought A Cardboard Clutch To SAG Awards

Actor Hannah Waddingham made an unusual clothing choice for the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards on February 24. She donned a shimmery Tony Ward gown and matched it with a cardboard clutch adorned with crayon marks and the word 'epic' scribbled across it. The Ted Lasso actress later revealed the heart-melting story behind it, explaining that the clutch was made by her 9-year-old daughter. "My daughter wanted to contribute, so she’s made me a bag," she said on the red carpet as she proudly showed off the little girl's craftsmanship. 

Waddingham was nominated for the Oustanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series and the Oustanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series awards for Ted Lasso at the SAG. Speaking to journalist Elaine Welteroth, the single mom-of-one said, "This (the glamorous evening) is all great but being a mom is the most important. My primary function is being a single mama."

will never emotionally recover from hannah waddingham taking the bag her daughter designed to the sag awards 😭

pic.twitter.com/NRrQDOD11K

— daisy (@weltonsmac) February 25, 2024

Single Motherhood

Getting candid on the red carpet, Hannah Waddingham unabashedly opened up about the hustle and emotional stress of being a single mother. Bonding with fellow mom Elaine Welteroth, she shared, "Mommy guilt is real, but I keep saying to her that we are a team and that I have to do this. I have to strike while the iron is hot. I'm not so conceited that I would think that I will always have this kind of focus. I've always said to her, 'Mommy must take this time while the light shines on me, because the light shines on you.'"

In another interview, she shared that she keeps her Emmy award in her daughter's bedroom to remind her that "mummy will only ever be away when it's for a really, blooming good reason." In a Glamour magazine interview last year, Waddingham had spoken about leading by example and being confident in herself for her daughter.

"I’m not going to lie, it’s quite exhausting. One of the greatest acting jobs in my life is pretending I have energy to my daughter! Honestly, when she says to me, 'Oh, let’s do this or let’s do that, mumma,' my whole body goes, 'Oh my God, really?' Being a single, working mum, I won't deny, is hard. But I try to show my daughter every day that she is worth it – and is my greatest achievement." she expressed to the publication.

Who is Hannah Waddingham?

Hannah Waddingham is a British actor and singer who is popularly known for her role as Rebecca Welton in Ted Lasso. Waddingham has a background in theatre arts as her mother and her maternal grandparents were opera singers. She is also popularly known for her roles in Sex Education, Midsomer Murders, Game of Thrones, and Krypton among many others.

Waddingham was nominated for two awards at this year's SAG Awards. She had earlier won the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series at the 2022 SAG Awards. Her work in Ted Lasso has earned her several other laurels including five awards and several nominations. Moreover, she won the Best Supporting Actress award at the International Film Festival of Walesher 2018 for her role in Winter Ridge.