Hannah Waddingham played a superhero on a British sitcom before she ever landed Rebecca Welton on “Ted Lasso.” The actress, who currently portrays the ruthless AFC Richmond owner, had a brief stint as Thermowoman on the BBC series “My Hero” in the mid-2000s.
Waddingham appeared twice on the show, playing two distinct characters across two seasons. Her first appearance came in Season 4’s “Time and Time Again” as Miranda, the girlfriend of a series regular from an alternate timeline. She returned in Season 6’s “Sidekick” as Lula/Thermowoman, a superpowered female clone created by the show’s protagonist, George Monday, so he could spend more time with his wife Janet.
Thermowoman’s Origin Story
The character of Thermowoman was a clone created by George Monday, the main character played by James Dreyfus. In the show, George is Thermoman, a superpowered alien from the planet Ultron. He lives a double life, posing as an ordinary man named George when he is not in costume.
George creates Lula/Thermowoman so he can balance his superhero duties with his civilian life. His wife Janet, played by Emily Joyce, grows uneasy as Lula’s presence starts to disrupt their family. That unease leads George to end Lula’s superhero career, bringing Thermowoman’s brief tenure to a close.
A Career Built on Small Roles
Waddingham’s Thermowoman role was one of many small parts she took early in her career. Before “Ted Lasso,” she made brief appearances in British television shows including:
- The popular soap operas “Brookside” and “Doctors”
Her breakout role came later, when she played Septa Unella in “Game of Thrones.” She has said she is grateful that her biggest success arrived later in life. “I’m glad that it didn’t happen when I was 20, 25, 30, because I know who I am,” she said on a 2023 episode of “Josh Smith’s Great Chat Show.” “I don’t apologize for who I am.”
The Long Road to Rebecca Welton
Waddingham spent over a decade working in television before scoring her breakthrough role. She told The Guardian in July 2026 that she has been “right in the belly of things, working in places that are not as la-di-da as you would have in TV.”
She has also reflected on how her success felt sudden to fans but was the result of years of effort. “An overnight success after 25 years is delicious,” she told The Guardian, adding, “I’m very at peace with who I am.”
The Pattern of Early Roles
Waddingham’s early career included a mix of daytime drama and comedy. Her appearances on “Brookside” and “Doctors” were part of the same string of small roles that eventually led to bigger opportunities.
The pattern holds together: small parts, steady work, a breakthrough. Thermowoman was one of those small parts, and now it has a story attached to it.
What the Role Means Now
The Thermowoman appearance offers a glimpse into the kind of work Waddingham was doing before she became a household name. It was a small part, and it is one of the roles that built her resume.
The fact that she played a superhero clone on a sitcom suggests a willingness to take on odd, memorable parts. Thermowoman was a clone created by a married man to spend more time with his wife.
The Contrast With Rebecca Welton
Rebecca Welton is a wealthy, intimidating sports team owner. Thermowoman was a clone created by a husband to spend more time with his wife. The contrast between the two roles is striking.
Waddingham has spoken openly about the grind of her early years in television. She has said she is proud of the road she traveled. The Thermowoman role is a small part of that story, but it is a part of it nonetheless.
It is also a funny footnote. For Waddingham, Thermowoman was one of those detours — a superhero clone on a sitcom, before she became Rebecca Welton.
The Thermowoman role was a small part, but it is part of a larger story. Waddingham’s path to Rebecca Welton involved years of work in places that were not glamorous. Thermowoman was one of those jobs.
Source material: “Ted Lasso Star Hannah Waddingham Played A Superhero On A Popular British Sitcom,” TVLine.
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