When Ted Lasso first hit Apple TV+, no one could have predicted the cultural juggernaut it would become. Beyond Jason Sudeikis's mustachioed coach, the show's heart lies in its ensemble—from the gruff Roy Kent to the ever-optimistic Keeley Jones. But one character who quietly stole scenes from the start is Leslie Higgins, the bumbling yet endearing Director of Football Operations, played with warmth and wit by Jeremy Swift.
Now, with Season 4 well underway, Higgins is back alongside Rebecca Welton and Keeley, trying to lure Ted back across the pond to coach the newly formed AFC Richmond women's team. It's a fresh chapter that Swift says feels both familiar and excitingly new.
A Kansas City Connection
Swift, a seasoned British actor with credits ranging from Downton Abbey to Mary Poppins Returns, has found a surprising kinship with the show's Midwestern roots. "There's something about storytelling in Kansas City," he muses, noting that both Sudeikis and legendary director Robert Altman hail from there. "His movies can bear multiple watches because there are scenes that don't impact you the first time. I think that's the same with Ted Lasso."
That layered approach is something Swift appreciates as a viewer. "I watch it and just think, 'Oh, this is great.' And then I pop up. I sort of forgot that I'm in it because I hadn't really watched it very much for about three years," he admits. "But with this show, you can watch multiple times because there are layers within it."
Reuniting the Diamond Dogs
When the call came that Season 4 was happening, Swift didn't hesitate to celebrate with his castmates. "We have a WhatsApp group, so we just celebrated on that," he says. "It's usually Brett [Goldstein] and Brendan Hunt. They're usually very quick at all those kinds of things."
Swift had a hunch the show might return, thanks to hints in the Season 3 finale and the contractual "sell-by date" that loomed. "The scenes at the end of the last episode gave hints about the women's team. It just seemed possible, but not guaranteed," he explains.
Learning from Kate Winslet
Between seasons, Swift took on a role in Goodbye June, directed by Kate Winslet. "She was a huge Ted Lasso fan," he recalls. "She was really so nice, and she's a great director. She had a great women's team: DP, camera team, and first AD. She gave great notes."
Swift found the experience of acting opposite Winslet's direction both challenging and rewarding. "I had a scene with four standout actors. I had to give them the news of their mother's terminal cancer. They're so good, they're just so good," he says. "I had to be a seasoned doctor used to giving you that news, they were so truthfully emotional. Oh man, I'm recalling it."
As Ted Lasso Season 4 continues to unfold, Swift remains grateful for the show's impact on his career. "Nothing could've prepared me for the sheer magnitude of Ted Lasso and the amount of love Higgins would garner," he says. With fans eagerly awaiting each new episode, it's clear that Higgins—and Swift—have become beloved fixtures in the Ted Lasso universe.
For more on the latest in TV and streaming, check out our coverage of Coach Beard's Season 4 arc and other entertainment news.
