PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF APPLE TV+

“F**k all the way off! I’ve never been so jealous of someone in my entire life,” is how my queer female friend responded when I told her that I would be interviewing Hannah Waddingham.

The Emmy and Olivier-winning actress has cultivated a passionate LGBTQIA+ following over the course of her career, particularly amongst women, thanks to acclaimed roles in Game of Thrones, Sex Education and Ted Lasso. Additionally, Waddingham was “engulfed by this gorgeous wave of support” from non-heteros earlier this year when she slayed as the host of the Eurovision Song Contest. ‘Queer icon’ applies here, definitely.