Hannah Waddingham's Viral Hair Moment With Tom Cruise Draws 'Ted Lasso' Comparisons
Fans likened the actress's interaction with Cruise at the 'Digger' premiere to her 'Ted Lasso' character's relationship with the titular coach.
A video of Hannah Waddingham attending to Tom Cruise's hair at the premiere of his film "Digger" has become a viral sensation, with viewers drawing parallels to Waddingham's character Rebecca Welton from the Apple TV+ series "Ted Lasso." In the clip, Waddingham, who portrayed the owner of AFC Richmond, is seen adjusting Cruise's newly dyed red hair on the red carpet, a gesture fans interpreted as reminiscent of how her character treated Ted Lasso.
Cruise, 64, debuted a vibrant red hair color for the event. The film "Digger" features the actor portraying an oil tycoon and billionaire whose actions trigger a global ecological crisis, a role that involves significant prosthetics and a bodysuit to age the character. Waddingham, 52, was among the notable figures present to support Cruise at the premiere.
The viral moment occurred amidst news of Waddingham's Prime Video comedy "Ride Or Die" being canceled, despite critical acclaim and strong viewership numbers. The series, which starred Waddingham and Octavia Spencer as best friends, topped Prime Video's original series charts for its initial three weeks and garnered a 96% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, reports suggest that the show's focus on middle-aged women may have contributed to its cancellation, with some executives reportedly deeming this demographic less desirable for attracting new subscribers.
Fans expressed disappointment and frustration over the cancellation on social media, calling for other streaming platforms to pick up the series. Writer Katy Brand commented on the situation, attributing the decision to ongoing misogyny in the film and television industry. Brand noted that despite improvements in the past, the industry has become worse, with women often facing undue criticism or dismissal of their work. She advised women in the industry to create their own paths to get their content seen.
"Ride Or Die" followed the lives of Judith Burton (Waddingham) and Debbie Claybourne (Spencer) when a criminal act revealed Judith's hidden identity as a secret international assassin. The series achieved significant viewership upon its July debut, reportedly amassing 1.6 billion minutes watched in its first three weeks and drawing nearly a million views in the U.S. within two days, surpassing other Prime Video originals.
