‘Ted Lasso’ Stars Reveal How The Apple TV+ Series Has Changed Their Lives

Since premiering its very first episode in August 2020, the Emmy award-winning Apple TV+ comedy series Ted Lasso has become a global phenomenon. Now currently in its third season, with fans unaware if this is really the end of an era for AFC Richmond and the many beloved characters surrounding this fictional football club, some of the actors behind these popular on-screen personas took a moment to reflect on their Ted Lasso experience and how this series has changed their lives, professionally and personally.

“I think it’s changed them both quite dramatically, actually,” actor Nick Mohammed told me, who plays “Nate Shelley” on the Apple TV+ series. “I was a working actor and writer/comedian before Ted Lasso, and very happy with the way things were going and the work that I was doing. There are definitely a few parts that I’ve been offered now that I wouldn’t usually be offered before, so that has been an incredible thing, professionally. But personally, what an incredible experience, especially if it is the end, to have worked with this great cast and crew.”

Mohammed added that even though it sounds cliché, he calls his cast and crew a proper, close-knit family. “We’re just so grateful for it and we can’t believe the impact it has had. We’re constantly sort of pinching ourselves and aware that not every job is going to be like this.”

Ted Lasso co-creator and “Coach Beard” actor Brendan Hunt said, “The best part of the whole experience has been the people. We’ve been very fortunate from top to bottom. All the writers we had in season one are still with us in season three, and I’m very proud of that. The whole cast are too, but they are contractually bound, so it’s less impressive. We just really got lucky every step of the way. Everyone has been such a pleasure to work with and when we are truly done, if ever, it’s going to be a real life-change to not have these people around all the time.”

Hunt went on to say that the success of Ted Lasso did not really change his life initially, due to the series premiering during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. “You can’t suddenly be famous enough to get the best table at the restaurant if the restaurant is not legally allowed to have customers anymore. It has been a slow change. Now, I can get into most soccer games for free. That’s nice!”

“It’s been an amazing journey and the journey we’re still on,” said actor Kola Bokinni, who plays AFC Richmond captain “Isaac McAdoo” on Ted Lasso. “I’m an advocate for staying present and enjoying the ride while you’re on the rollercoaster.”

Actor Cristo Fernández, who plays footballer “Dani Rojas” said, “Realizing what you do can change people’s lives – in every single job, that’s what you want, right? Just to make people’s lives better – that means so much. I just hope as an actor, there’s more work. As a filmmaker, I’m trying to develop my projects and I hope there’s more opportunities.”

“For me, to be in a show that’s so successful, and as an actor, to be in a show that touches so many people on so many levels,” said actor Billy Harris, who plays Colin Hughes. “To go and meet the President, I think that shows the level that this show is at.”

Actor Phil Dunster, who plays “Jamie Tartt” on Ted Lasso, said of the changes in his own life since joining the series, “I go to watch a lot more football games in-person, which is very cool, as a life-long football fan. The thing is it’s so amazing to see the response it has had kind of all over the world, but particularly in America. Having been over there and had moments like meeting the President and the First Lady at The White House was pretty surreal. I was an actor for many years before doing Ted Lasso and it’s nice that you’re knocking on doors that whole time and now the door is starting to open slightly more and you get a peek around the door. I’m very honored to have been a part of it.”

“It’s difficult to know in the future, but everybody certainly has a bigger profile and particularly in America, more recognized,” said actor Jeremy Swift, who plays “Higgins” on the hit series. “It’s very helpful for work and it’s great to be in something that’s a little bit of history, as well. It’s made its mark in that way.”

Actor James Lance added, who plays “Trent Crimm” on Ted Lasso, “I think just knowing that we’ve had three years of regular work. That’s been nice on a personal level.”

Indisputably, the biggest question on the minds of Ted Lasso fans right now is Will this be the final season? Having created Ted Lasso alongside Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence and Joe Kelly, I asked Hunt if this current third season wraps up the overall narrative of this fictional universe in a satisfying bow, or does he believe there is more story left to tell.

“I guess we’re hoping for both,” said Hunt. “We always saw it as a three-part story – and so, we went into this season feeling like we had to finish the story we set out to tell. I think we did. Whether or not that bow is beautiful or jagged remains to be seen. No matter how tight that bow is, it doesn’t necessarily mean we can’t come back and open it up later on.”