Hannah Waddingham’s surgeon boyfriend Nick Beresford-Cleary is criticised for having ‘British’ teeth – but dentists say Hollywood’s beloved ‘fake’ veneers are falling out of fashion
‘Tell me you’re British without telling me you’re British’ was how one waspish observer responded to a photo of Hannah Waddingham’s boyfriend’s smile as he posed proudly with the star at the UK screening of her latest comedy series, Ride or Die, this week.
Ted Lasso star Waddingham, 51, went public with handsome surgeon Nick Beresford-Cleary, 46, at the London premiere on Monday night – and the ensuing photographs have sparked a flurry of comments about the physician by her side’s teeth on social media.
After footage showing him smiling affectionately at Waddingham surfaced on Instagram, Beresford-Cleary’s set of gnashers were quickly scrutinised.
‘He must be British,’ wrote one. ‘Dentist?’ barbed another. ‘Urgent!’, someone else followed up.
Others, infuriated by the unkind reaction, leapt to the surgeon’s defence, writing: ‘Who cares about his teeth? Look at his genuine smile and the way he’s looking at her! Lovely.’
And another fired back: ‘USA citizens and their teeth obsession. That’s a real smile, genuine smile, but they don’t know anymore.’
Loved up: Hannah Waddingham and her boyfriend, spinal surgeon Nick Beresford-Cleary, pictured at the premiere for her new comedy Ride or Die this week
Mr Beresford-Cleary’s natural smile has come under scrutiny by some – with one American penning ‘Tell me you’re British without telling me you’re British’ in response to the photos
So, are ‘British’ teeth a thing?
Eddie Crouch, Chair of the British Dental Association, says if they are then it’s definitely time to ditch the stereotypes.
‘Let’s park the Austin Powers clichés about “British Teeth”, they’re a total myth.
‘Hard evidence shows that the average American is missing more teeth than their UK cousins. That’s the net result of being able to access affordable care, but that’s now at risk.
‘If the Government doesn’t get its act together we’ll have Hollywood smiles for a few and not good oral health for the many.’
He adds: ‘By keeping your natural teeth healthy, you maintain the comfort and function that no replacement can fully duplicate.
‘Natural teeth preserve jawbone health and help maintain the natural shape of your face. They allow you to chew efficiently, speak clearly, and maintain proper bite alignment.’
Even those in cosmetic dentistry, which created the dazzling veneer in the first place, say the comments made about Beresford-Cleary’s smile are unnecessary.
Dr Shravan Chawla at Ten Dental says there’s been a move in recent years away from the mega-watt smile in favour of a more characterful look.
He told the Daily Mail: ‘Healthy, natural teeth will always be in fashion. When teeth are crooked, slightly mis-aligned, they become more a part of the “look” and personality of the individual, and it remains their personal choice if they wish to live with it or “tweak” or minimally correct it to make things more harmonious.
Aimee Lou Wood said in 2025 that her natural smile had become a subject of fascination amongst the dental community – particularly in the US
‘Cosmetic dentistry that is invisible and fits the face and personality of the person, without being obvious and visible is the future, versus “in your face” big white teeth which is very American and out of fashion.’
A gleaming smile has, since Hollywood first began making superstars out of mere mortals, been seen as a prerequisite to stardom – with idols from Marilyn Monroe to James Dean and Marlon Brando all in possession of a knock ’em dead grin.
Tom Cruise famously made just a few movies, the biggest being The Outsiders in 1983, before he headed to the orthodontist and signed up for an LA smile – and then promptly watched his career soar. Even in his 40s, the actor, now 63, was so committed to a razzle dazzle smile, he wore a brace.
Such is our general devotion to gleaming, perfectly aligned teeth that everyone from England footballers – see Declan Rice’s before look – to influencers and pop stars seemingly have a private dentist on speed dial.
Alongside her stellar voice, Wicked star Cythia Erivo’s famous dazzling white smile has helped her shoot to fame on stage and most recently in Wicked
Hot right now actors Jacob Elordi, who starred in Saltburn, and Timothee Chalamet both have natural smiles
Refreshingly though, there has been a shift in recent years, as a raft of stars have eschewed polished veneers in favour of, well, what Mother Nature gave them, have shot to mega stardom – from Timothee Chalamet to Cynthia Erivo.
British star Aimee Lou Wood has frequently discussed how her smile has become a hot topic in the dentist community.
The White Lotus actress, 32, told The Jonathan Ross Show last year that US audiences in particular are fascinated with them.
She said: ‘I can’t believe the impact my teeth are having. The Americans can’t believe it. They’re being lovely [and there’s] videos of orthodontists coming up [online] analysing my teeth.
‘They dissect my teeth and say, “What’s wrong with them?” and at the end go, “But I don’t think she should change a thing!” It’s a real full circle moment after being bullied and now people are clapping.’
French singer Vanessa Paradis was also a wonky smile trailblazer, first showing off her beautiful smile as a 14-year-old with her hit Joe Le Taxi
Speaking about whether people have asked her if they’re false teeth, Aimee said: ‘100%. People are like, “They’re real?!”‘
Wicked star Cynthia Erivo also sports a natural gap-toothed grin.
And Ayo Edebiri, better known to fans of The Bear as Chicago chef Sydney Adamu, continues to see her star in the ascendant – and hasn’t changed her teeth as her roles have got bigger.
The 30-year-old actress and television writer, who hails from Massachusetts, won the gong for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy – for her role in the intense chef drama in 2024.
Ayo has resisted any pressure to fake it with a set of glossy veneers.
And, far from having a negative effect on either her appearance or image, her imperfect smile actually gives her an edge that only adds to her attractiveness, says body language expert Judi James.
James told the Mail last year: ‘Ayo’s teeth are quite small, with a display of gum and this makes her smile look fun and hugely appealing.
‘As we get older we tend to get “long in the tooth” as our gums recede, so Ayo’s very visual gums make her look pleasantly young and authentic.’
Who sparked the trend for dental authenticity? Sultry French songstress Vanessa Paradis, who shot to fame with Joe Le Taxi at the age of just 14 in 1987, let the gap in her teeth become her trademark. Madonna and model Lara Stone have also celebrated their imperfect alignment.
And when Mick Jagger’s model daughter Georgia May Jagger first posed with red lipstick in the noughties, showcasing her gap-tooth grin, the then teenager caused a storm in a good way.
In 2008, she told the Daily Mail: ‘I wouldn’t even have braces on my teeth. I like the fact that I have good old-fashioned British teeth with a big gap. Who wants those gleaming white cosmetically enhanced American teeth?’
