For many, Wimbledon is no longer just about the action on Centre Court. The celebrity enclosure has become just as much of a spectacle as the sport itself. Each day, it serves its own Grand Slam with everything from summer manicures and luxury fashion to notable hair transformations. And this week, the latter trophy goes to Hannah Waddingham.
The actor has been committed to the bob since early 2024, trading her longer blonde lengths for a collarbone-skimming cut. But for an occasion like Wimbledon, she decided to take the style a step further…and a couple of inches shorter. Her latest iteration is cropped to the chin and swept into a deep side part, officially entering Italian bob territory.
Now, the Italian bob has a certain je ne sais quoi. It’s polished, voluminous, and glamorous in equal parts. And best of all, on fine hair, it’s basically witchcraft (the good kind). The blunt chin-length shape creates the illusion of density, while the side part injects lift at the roots, giving hair buoyancy to rival a freshly poured soufflé. It's volume by sleight of hand; no industrial quantities of mousse necessary and, crucially, no backcombing required—yay for hair health!
And not only that, but it’s the perfect haircut for summer. It’s breezy enough to keep the back of your neck cool in 30-degree heat, yet short enough to air-dry with minimal persuasion. Translation: less time wrestling with hot tools, more time doing literally anything else. Because who wants to spend half an hour blow-drying when the sun is beating down with 90-degree wrath?
With that said, consider this your sign to channel Hannah and make the Italian bob your haircut of summer 2026. If anything, it’s a public service to your neck…
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
