How Hannah Waddingham conquered Hollywood: The British private schoolgirl who became a single mother at 40 now tops the most-searched list of the US’s biggest chat shows

Hannah Waddingham dazzled American viewers with her sparkling dress and even more sparkling personality when the stunning actress appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers on Monday.

English Rose, 49, who rose to fame playing Rebecca Welton in the Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso, was hoping to attract an audience for her special, Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas, also on Apple TV+.

The musical extravaganza, filmed live at the London Coliseum, arrived on the streaming service on November 22 and features guest stars Phil Dunster, Luke Evans, Sam Ryder and Leslie Odom Jr.

Leslie Odom Jr.’s performance was actually a request from Hannah’s nine-year-old daughter Kitty, she revealed to US presenter Seth Meyers, 49.

The Emmy-winning actress and singer joked that she “looked like a competition winner” next to the Broadway star.

This has been a year like no other for Hannah: she used her fluent French to present the Eurovision Song Contest, presented the Earthshot Prize with Prince William, starred in Christmas adverts for both M&S and Baileys, and now presents her own festive special.

Things could reach even greater heights next year, when she stars alongside Tom Cruise in the latest Mission: Impossible movie.

The 49-year-old English rose hopes to attract an audience for her special, Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas, on Apple TV+ (Photo: Hannah Waddingham talks to Seth Meyers on his late night show)

Dressed in a midi dress from Rixo and matching sparkling heels, the 6ft tall beauty, as always, balanced her glamor with her down-to-earth and quintessentially British character.

The London-born actress has finally conquered Hollywood after 30 years in the game.

Despite twenty years on Broadway and the West End, and roles in Game of Thrones, Sex Education and Benidorm, it was Ted Lasso who really put Hannah in her stranglehold on the nation’s hearts.

The award-winning three-series comedy follows an American football coach, played by Jason Sudeikis, who comes to Britain to manage a fictional English football team called AFC Richmond, owned by Hannah’s character.

Hannah admitted on Seth Meyers’ show that she misses the show, which wrapped in May this year, and said of the cast’s appearance on SNL that they “travel in a sickening pack.”

Hannah Waddingham presents her own musical extravaganza with a range of guest stars in her new Apple TV+ festive special (Photo: Luke Evans (left) and Hannah Waddingham (right) in her new Apple TV+ show Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas)

Hannah Waddingham’s star reached new heights after appearing in the hit show Ted Lasso (Picture: Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca Welton in Ted Lasso)

Hannah Waddingham (Photo: Hannah Waddingham arrives in green at Good Morning America)

Since Hannah is quickly becoming a household name, it seems even Kate Middleton is a fan.

When she enters the movie business, perhaps an Oscar could be added to her Emmy, which she keeps in her daughter’s bedroom to remind her that “mommy will only be aware if it’s a real, thriving good reason’.

Hannah, who was told at the age of 38 that there was ‘no chance’ of her having children, is now a single mother to nine-year-old Kitty.

She and Prince William witnessed Hannah sing O Holy Night, accompanied by the English National Opera, at this year’s Royal Variety Performance.

The Princess of Wales was seen turning to the person sitting to her left at the Royal Albert Hall and telling them: “Amazing, that was fantastic.”

Hannah has indeed come a long way from the young London girl who was bullied at school because of her height.

Even Catherine, Princess of Wales, is impressed by Hannah after seeing her sing O Holy Night (Picture: Hannah Waddington laughs with the Prince and Princess of Wales after the Royal Variety Performance)

Kate described Hannah’s singing at the Royal Variety Performance as ‘amazing’ (Picture: Hannah Waddington performing O Holy Night at the Royal Variety Performance)

Hannah was born in Wandsworth to opera singer Melodie Kelly and grew up around theatre.

However, the star has previously detailed how she was ‘quite shy’ at school and suffered ‘terrible’ bullying.

She shared on the Kelly Clarkson Show that she was bullied by her classmates because she was taller than them

Hannah said: ‘I was bullied quite a bit. I hated it. I was quite shy, we’re called introverts extroverts, that’s what it is.

“They used to tease me about my size when they were much smaller, but… to your face… now look at me!”