Actress Hannah Waddingham has spoken candidly about the persistent "mum guilt" she experiences when her work requires her to be away from her 12-year-old daughter, Kitty. Waddingham, who shares Kitty with her ex-partner Gianluca Cugnetto, has been open about the difficulties of single parenthood alongside a successful acting career, often referring to her daughter as her "greatest achievement."
Recalling her early career days, Waddingham shared that she initially planned to take a break from work after Kitty's birth but was compelled to accept a role in "Game of Thrones." She described the emotional difficulty of filming a scene just weeks after giving birth, hearing her baby cry nearby and questioning her decision to return to work so soon. "And I just thought, oh my God, what am I doing?" she told The Guardian, reflecting on the conflicting feelings of providing for her family while being separated from her daughter.
Even as Kitty approaches her teenage years, Waddingham admitted that the guilt remains a factor when she has to travel for work. She is preparing for press engagements for the upcoming season of "Ted Lasso," anticipating the return of these feelings. Due to the demanding schedule, Waddingham has also put off returning to theatre, believing her daughter is not yet ready for the extended periods of separation involved in performing eight shows a week.
Beyond the challenges of motherhood, Waddingham also addressed her public persona, particularly the label of being "camp." While she embraces the theatrical aspects of her identity, she hopes audiences recognize the depth beyond her larger-than-life image. "I like these profiles, because it's important for people to see that, as with anyone else, there's light and there's shade," she stated.
This discussion of personal life follows news from May that Waddingham has entered a new relationship, her first since her long-term partnership with Cugnetto ended. After focusing on herself and Kitty for nearly a decade, she felt ready to re-enter the dating scene. She described her new partner as "very good looking" and "really lovely," and recently made a red carpet debut with consultant spine surgeon Nick Beresford-Cleary.
Regarding the end of her relationship with Gianluca Cugnetto, with whom she was with for over a decade and rumored to be engaged, Waddingham has not publicly detailed the reasons for the split. She previously described the separation as feeling like "the rug was pulled from underneath me" but emphasized her decision not to be weakened by it, likening the period to her daughter and herself holding on for dear life. Despite the breakup, she stated she remains on good terms with Kitty's father.
