‘Ted Lasso’ Star Hannah Waddingham’s Former Long-Time Partner Gianluca Cugnetto: Inside Their Relationship and Breakup

Gianluca Cugnetto had been Hannah Waddingham's partner for several years; they welcomed a daughter, and after she "asked the universe," Hannah Waddingham landed her breakout role on "Ted Lasso," which was life-changing.

Hannah Waddingham shot to fame for her role as Rebecca Welton in "Ted Lasso"; Waddingham played a miserable housewife turned club owner in one season and impressed critics with her performance. The series featured ten episodes and aired on Apple TV+ in August 2020.

Before "Ted Lasso," Waddingham worked on different West End productions and had experience acting on stage. Her stage experience helped her snag the life-changing role as it piqued Jason Sudeikis and his team's interest.

Who Is Hannah Waddingham's Former Partner Gianluca Cugnetto?

Cugnetto attended Cornell University in New York, where he studied Revenue Management; he went on to work in food and drink for luxurious hotels and bars internationally, including Bangkok, Dubai, and the UK. He had a three-year directorial position at Starwood Hotels and Resorts in 2007.

And in November 2010, he worked for Antara Hotels. In 2015, he changed positions and became the General Manager at Hotel Du Vin in the UK, a chain of hotels and boutique hotels. Of Italian background, Cugnetto was a director at Le Méridien in Dubai and The Sheraton and worked as the Director of Chateau de Codignat.

Waddingham and the chef reportedly had been in a long-term relationship for over a decade, but they never got married. The name and gender of their daughter were unknown for some time until the public learned they welcomed a girl.

Hannah Waddingham's Daughter

Hannah Waddingham's breakout role in "Ted Lasso" not only earned her recognition for her performance but changed her and her daughter's lives. The award-winning actress could not contain her emotions as she stepped on the podium at the 2021 Emmys.

After winning the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, she thanked Jason Sudeikis, her co-star on "Ted Lasso," through tears, sharing that he not only changed her life but "more importantly my baby girl's."

Waddingham had been filming Warner Bros "Krypton" when she received a call about her daughter's diagnosis. Waddingham's daughter, Kitty, was diagnosed with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP).

HSP, an autoimmune disorder, causes swelling of small blood vessels and usually affects children between 2 and 6. Children with the condition usually recover with possible side effects. Waddingham said:

"For anyone who knows what it's like, it's horrific."

Waddingham was in Belfast when she filmed "Krypton"; she knew she had to be near her daughter and told her management teams in the UK and LA. She thanked the universe for improving her daughter's health and asked for another project near Kitty.

Hoping she was not asking for too much, Waddingham said she added to her wish a role that allowed her to showcase her talents as an actress; two months later, she received a call about "Ted Lasso."

Her new acting opportunity was filmed 30 minutes away from her home, allowing her to be close to her daughter in case of an emergency. Waddingham admitted that she didn't like being away from her daughter:

"I am first and foremost a mom, and more importantly, a single mom."

She planned to place her Emmy award in her daughter's room, reminding her that her mother was always close to her. She said she taught her daughter a mantra where she would ask Kitty, "what does mummy always do? "to which her little girl would respond: "mommy always comes back."

Waddingham spoke candidly about her fertility issues while trying to conceive her daughter; doctors told her that her chances of falling pregnant were low and might never happen. She didn't mind sharing her story as she knew many women could relate.

After she was born, Kitty would join Waddingham on sets; Waddingham tweeted a picture of herself feeding her daughter while on the set of "Partners in Crime." As Kitty grew up, Hannah Waddingham found other ways to spend time with her daughter, including seeing Teletubbies in concert.