Richard Gadd has revealed the one scene in his hit Netflix show, Baby Reindeer, that brought members of the production team to tears.
Netflix’s Baby Reindeer has been an enormous success and has been praised by fans for the truthful look at a real-life stalking incident that happened to a UK comedian.
In the show which has been watched globally, Richard, 34, played Donny, a character whose experiences in the show mirrored real events that happened in his life.
In one very dark episode, Donny is sexually assaulted by a successful comedian named Darrien (played by Tom Goodman-Hill). The scene takes place at Darrien’s flat, where Donny has been lured in for a drug-taking session under the pretence of working together, which would have been a major step in his comedy career.
The harrowing scene takes place in the fourth episode and sees Donny being repeatedly abused by the comic writer.
Richard revealed that this scene caused members of the production team to cry as they watched the upsetting and graphic ordeal play out.
‘We did close the set,’ the actor began, meaning only a limited crew who were necessary were present.
‘But I was looking over and you’d see the props guys wiping tears from their eyes as they would be putting the props back how they should be.’
Speaking at the DGA Theater Complex for Netflix’s FYC screening and panel for the series, Richard added that the performance was ‘weighty’ and was proud to be working with such a sensitive team.
‘The show was based in such a trauma that everyone on set felt at times it was a huge, weighty thing.
‘And it’s why I think everyone had such respect for everything. I was blessed with this amazing team who kind of felt it with me in a lot of ways,’ he said, via The Independent.
When talking about the truth in the series he said that he would check in with himself regularly and make sure it felt honest.
‘I never wanted to kind of lie, I always had to constantly check myself to be like, “Does this feel truthful to me to my experience all the way through?” And if it didn’t, I would have to bring it back.’
Jessica Gunning, who plays Martha in the series also spoke about the honest portrayal of events in the series, adding that the ‘messy ending’ was reflective of real life.
‘It’s not an easy, buttoned-up story,’ the actress said at the panel. ‘Everything doesn’t get tied up at the end. I think it’s messy, like life is.’
‘Their dynamic is complicated and he’s really honest about that. That’s so refreshing to see. The response to it is shown that audiences are really hungry for that. Hungry for honest, messy storytelling.’
Since the release of the series, internet sleuths have tried to track down the real Martha and Darrien from the series.
Richard warned fans: ‘People I love, have worked with, and admire (including Sean Foley) are unfairly getting caught up in speculation.
‘Please don’t speculate on who the real-life people could be. That’s not the point of our show,’ he said on social media.
Despite the comic’s pleas, a police investigation has now been launched after a comedy writer was wrongly accused of being the abuser in the series.
Following speculation about the real people who inspired the character in the series, Piers Morgan is set to interview the ‘Real Martha’, a woman named Fiona Harvey.
Ahead of the release of the pre-recorded interview, Fiona has said she was ‘used’ by Piers Morgan.
Fiona claimed she was paid only £250 for the interview, which is set to be released on Thursday night.
Baby Reindeer is streaming now on Netflix.
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