Melodie Kelly is the mother of Hannah Waddingham. Melodie was an opera singer as were both her grandparents.
Melodie Kelly’s mother joined the English National Opera when Waddingham was eight years old and she grew up around the theatre.
Waddingham is a graduate of the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts. She has a four-octave vocal range. She started out in a dinner theatre, performing in the interactive comedy, Joni and Gina’s wedding.
Waddingham appeared in the concert premiere of Styles and Drew’s Soho Cinders at the Queen’s Theatre, London in 2011, and was replaced by Jenna Russell for the show’s first fully staged production in 2012.
Waddingham will portray Lady Bellaston in the ITV drama miniseries Tom Jones, Based on Henry Fielding’s 1749 novel.