Hannah Waddingham reveals heartbreaking ‘mum guilt’ battle

Hannah Waddingham has opened up about the emotional struggle of balancing her booming career with motherhood.

The 51-year-old actress admitted that she is constantly battling “mum guilt” whenever work takes her away from her daughter.

The Ted Lasso star revealed that being separated from 12-year-old Kitty, whom she shares with former partner Gianluca Cugnetto, is the hardest part of her success. 

As she prepares to travel to promote the next season of the hit comedy, Hannah confessed the familiar feelings of guilt quickly return.

Speaking to The Guardian, the Game of Thrones actress said the “mummy guilt descends” every time she has to leave home, although she tries her best not to let it overwhelm her.

Those feelings have even influenced her career choices. 

Hannah explained she has stepped back from stage work because she does not believe her daughter is ready for the long periods apart that theatre demands. 

Instead, she is waiting for the right moment to return to the stage while putting family first.

The devoted mum also revealed the touching reason she carried a cardboard clutch made by Kitty on the 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards red carpet. 

Rather than opting for a luxury handbag, she proudly showed off her daughter's handmade creation to remind Kitty she is always close to her heart.

When filming her latest action movie Ride or Die alongside Octavia Spencer in Prague, Hannah found another way to keep her family together by bringing Kitty with her and enrolling her in an international school for five months.

Despite admitting she “mangled” herself while performing up to 80 per cent of her own stunts, Hannah believes women can reinvent themselves at any age. 

After finding major fame later in life, she described becoming an “overnight success” after 25 years of hard work as “delicious” and said she is proud to be 51 and completely comfortable with who she is.

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