Hannah Waddingham (52) and Juno Temple’s (37) Viral Emmy Hug Proves the ‘Ted Lasso’ Friendship Is Still Going Strong

Few on-screen pairings have translated into a real-life friendship quite like Hannah Waddingham and Juno Temple. The two met on the set of ‘Ted Lasso’, where Waddingham played AFC Richmond owner Rebecca Welton, and Temple played the lovable publicist Keeley Jones.

Their bond has only grown since then. Ahead of International Women’s Day in March 2025, Mattel even honored the pair with their own Barbie dolls as “Role Models,” celebrating a friendship fans have embraced both on and off screen.

Now a photo of the two stars sharing an exuberant embrace with an Emmy statuette is making the rounds online. In the image, Temple, dressed in a pale blue two-piece, wraps Waddingham in a big hug with her mouth wide open in delight.

Waddingham, wearing a coral strapless gown, beams as she holds the golden trophy. The shared joy in the moment has struck a chord with fans who have followed the duo’s friendship for years.

Hannah waddingham and Juno Temple 🥵😬 https://t.co/lDFIEES4VE

— 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗷 (@Manoj_15072K) October 13, 2026

The image echoes one of the most talked-about moments of the show’s awards run. At the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards in 2021, Waddingham won outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for playing Rebecca, taking home the first prize of the night.

Among the nominees she beat was Temple herself. Rather than simply celebrating her own win, Waddingham used part of her acceptance speech to honor her co-star, joking that she would break off one of the statuette’s arms to share it with Temple if she could.

The new trailer for ‘TED LASSO’ Season 4 has been released. The new season follows Ted Lasso as he returns to coach a women’s football team. Releasing August 5 on Apple TV. https://t.co/f9RKadJXmO

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) July 28, 2026

It was a rare Emmy moment, with the winner spending time celebrating her closest competitor. Waddingham told the audience that her character simply wouldn’t exist without Temple’s, while also thanking Jason Sudeikis for changing her life.

Temple has returned that affection. She has said she hoped Waddingham would win the award over her, a sentiment Waddingham reportedly shared in return. The pair have often spoken about how much their friendship means to them.

“She and I have gone more and more insular about our relationship because if you talk about it too much, it can never do justice to what she and I have found together as human beings,” Waddingham told The Hollywood Reporter.

That conversation came as ‘Ted Lasso’ scored 20 Emmy nominations, including nods for both actresses. Waddingham also explained that when the cast faced last-minute script rewrites, she and Temple would lock in together to tackle the changes.

Their support extends well beyond award shows. Temple appeared in Waddingham’s 2023 Apple TV concert special ‘Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas’, and Waddingham later turned up to support Temple at the London premiere of ‘Venom: The Last Dance’.

Their Barbie dolls even nod to their red carpet moments. Waddingham’s doll wears a look inspired by her shimmering red Tony Ward couture gown from the 2024 SAG Awards, while Temple’s pays homage to the vintage orange Roberto Cavalli dress she wore to the 2024 Emmys.

Both actresses have continued to build impressive résumés. Temple has earned Emmy nominations for both ‘Ted Lasso’ and ‘Fargo’, while Waddingham received an Emmy nomination for voicing the goddess Deliria in the animated series ‘Krapopolis’.

Even as their careers take them in different directions, their friendship remains one of the most beloved legacies of ‘Ted Lasso’. This latest viral photo is just another reminder of why fans adore them together.

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