Tanya Reynolds reveals why joining Ted Lasso felt intimidating, how the cast welcomed her, and why Season 4 won her over. The Tanya Reynolds Opens Up About the Pressure of Joining ‘Ted Lasso’ first appeared on The Blast

Tanya Reynolds says she felt intimidated joining “Ted Lasso” for its fourth season. At the same time, the actress admits those fears eased after the show’s established stars welcomed her without any Hollywood attitude.

Season 4 of the beloved Apple TV+ series shifts the story to Richmond’s new women’s team, which must build support while operating with fewer resources than the men’s side.

Tanya Reynolds Thought ‘Ted Lasso’ Would Be Intimidating

Tanya Reynolds admits stepping into the world of “Ted Lasso” was as intimidating as it was exciting. The “Sex Education” star joins Season 4 as Alice Chilton, assistant coach of AFC Richmond’s newly formed women’s team, the Lady Greyhounds, placing her alongside Jason Sudeikis’ Ted Lasso and Brendan Hunt’s Coach Beard in one of the show’s biggest new storylines.

Reynolds told PEOPLE she battled imposter syndrome before filming because of the series’ massive fan following. “It was, obviously, really exciting, but also quite nerve-wracking to step into something that is so loved and adored,” she said.

That said, her nerves quickly eased once production began. Reynolds said she was “pleasantly surprised” by how welcoming the returning cast turned out to be, adding they were “nice and not really starry at all.”

Season 4 Centers on Richmond’s Women’s Team

The Lady Greyhounds may wear the Richmond badge, but they won’t enjoy the same advantages as the men’s squad. According to co-creator Brendan Hunt, AFC Richmond’s new women’s team begins its journey with a far leaner operation despite belonging to a Premier League club.

Speaking to TV Insider, Hunt explained that the team will train and play in different surroundings from the men’s side. Instead of calling Richmond’s main stadium home, the women will play where the men’s team trains. They will also work with their own budget, reflecting the financial realities of lower-division women’s football.

As The Blast reported, the challenge extends beyond the pitch. Hunt revealed that some Richmond supporters question whether launching the women’s side could divert money and attention away from the men’s team. That skepticism leaves the Lady Greyhounds fighting for acceptance in their own community while trying to build a competitive team from the ground up.

Tanya Reynolds Nearly Missed Her ‘Ted Lasso’ Break

In a separate interview, Reynolds spoke about how self-doubt nearly led her to give up hope before she was cast in “Ted Lasso.”

The actress revealed she nearly wrote off her audition after submitting a self-tape she thought “wasn’t very good,” only to receive a Zoom call from Jason Sudeikis days later with an unexpected offer to join the series.

Speaking to The Guardian, Reynolds admitted she hadn’t even watched “Ted Lasso” before landing the role, joking that she lives “under a rock.” She quickly binge-watched all three previous seasons and realized she wanted to be part of what the show had built.

Playing Alice Chilton also pushed Reynolds outside her comfort zone. She said portraying a tough, no-nonsense football coach felt unnatural because she’s nothing like the character in real life. “I am a cheese string,” she joked, explaining that Alice’s hard exterior is a defense mechanism.

Tanya Reynolds Says Sudeikis and Hunt Constantly Improvised

The one challenge Reynolds faced working alongside Sudeikis and Hunt was that she barely got to keep a straight face. In her interview, the English star said the pair constantly improvised during scenes, turning many takes into what she called an exercise in “Don’t laugh. Just don’t laugh.”

Away from the comedy, Reynolds said “Ted Lasso” arrived at the right moment in her life. She explained that she’s grown exhausted by television built around violence, especially stories involving violence against women. Instead, she was drawn to the series’ optimism, kindness and belief in communication.

“That’s the kind of telly I’m craving,” Reynolds said, describing the Apple TV+ comedy as the sort of uplifting escape she wants to watch right now.

Jason Sudeikis Explains Season 4 Return

On his part, Sudeikis says bringing “Ted Lasso” back only made sense once he found a story worth telling. After ending Season 3 with Ted’s return to Kansas City, the show’s co-creator said he never intended to revive the character simply because the series was successful.

“The story was told,” Sudeikis explained to The Hollywood Reporter. “I wasn’t going to have Ted uproot their life to justify the money truck.”

Season 4 marks the comedy’s return more than three years after its original finale. The new season comprises ten episodes, with fresh installments arriving weekly through October 7 as Ted takes on what Apple TV describes as his biggest coaching challenge yet.

The Tanya Reynolds Opens Up About the Pressure of Joining ‘Ted Lasso’ first appeared on The Blast