Within just over six years, Richard Gadd went from struggling comedian to one of the most talked-about actors worldwide.
The Scottish star’s 2024 Netflix miniseries, Baby Reindeer – a raw retelling of Gadd’s real-life ordeal with sexual abuse and a relentless stalker – became one of the streamer’s most-watched shows of the year and went on to win six Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Lead Actor and Outstanding Writing nods for Gadd.
The show has also landed him in the middle of a $170 million defamation lawsuit.
Speaking on stage at Melbourne’s Future Vision television summit this week, the Wormit-born actor discussed his rise and struggles with the fame that came with the success of Baby Reindeer, telling interviewer Tony Ayres he was “the most Googled man on the planet.”
“It was like for three days straight when the show came out… I think I was eighth overall that year, one behind King Charles, or something like that,” he said, per Variety Australia.
“People just wanted to devour all the information, but it was very exposing. I was like, Jesus, this is a bit nuts.
He called the ride from fringe comic to sudden celebrity “terrible,” “mad,” and “weird.”
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“I’ve never craved fame. I’ve always wanted to write a piece of art that would inspire people and create conversation,” he said. “But all of a sudden I’m getting papped in the street, my friends are being papped, gossip columns… I never wanted or expected that.”
Gadd continued: “Every time I went outside, people were outside my property, taking photos… my whole way of living just changed. At one point, I never thought it would die down. It was pretty intolerable at certain stages.”
During his appearance at the event ACMI Theatre, Gadd also shared some advice for writers in attendance – focus on the work.
“I had about 2,000 followers when I did ‘Baby Reindeer.’ I was this kind of comedian that couldn’t get five minutes at the Glee Club. But if you write and do something special and unique, then nothing else really matters in a way,” he said.
“Art is a meritocracy. If you write something special, it can’t be ignored.”
