The Netflix series “My Little Reindeer” tells the story of Richard Gadd who plays himself on screen. Back to a very real nightmare.
If there’s only one series to watch on Netflix right now, it’s My Little Reindeer. This British drama, made up of seven episodes, tells the story of how a young comedian became the victim of a stalker for several years. At the helm of the project, Richard Gadd tells his own story. He writes, directs and plays his role on screen.
An admirer like no other
This hell started more than ten years ago. As in the series, Richard Gadd tries to break into the field of performing alone and tours small bars in England without much success. To make money, he takes a job as a bartender. One day, out of kindness, he offered a cup of tea to a customer. This gesture marks the beginning of the nightmare.
“At first everyone in the pub thought it was funny, having a fanexplains Richard Gadd in The Times. Then she invaded my life. She went to my shows, waited for me outside my house and sent me hundreds of voicemails and emails“,
In total, over five years of harassment, the actor received 40,000 emails, 350 hours of voice messages, 100 pages of letters, 45 messages on Facebook and more than 740 tweets. He also receives gifts, like boxers and hats.
Freedoms from reality
Considering the seriousness of the facts was not high, the police did not provide any assistance to Richard Gadd. After insisting with the authorities, Richard Gadd obtains a restraining order which prohibits his harasser from approaching him, his friends and his family.
In 2019, to exorcise his trauma, Richard Gadd transformed his story into a show, entitled Baby Reindeer. Show which became, five years later, a Netflix series. The true identity of her stalker has always been kept secret. To prevent her from being recognized, the creator claims to have taken several liberties.
“We went to great lengths to hide her identity, so much so that I’m not even sure she would recognize herself.he explains in GQ. What remains authentic, however, is the emotional truth of this story. This is not a detailed portrait.“
My Little Reindeer is available on Netflix.