LEGAL BID
Who is Fiona Harvey? The woman accused of being Richard Gadd’s real-life stalker Martha from Netflix’s Baby Reindeer
Show creator Richard Gadd spoke out after online sleuths desperately tried to work out who the 'real' stalker was
AFTER Baby Reindeer dropped on Netflix, fans became obsessed with tracking down the "real life" woman that stalker Martha Scott is based on.
Fiona Harvey, the woman accused of being Martha, is now suing Netflix over claims the show made her look like a “monster”.
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Who is Fiona Harvey?
Fiona Harvey from Fyvie, Aberdeenshire hit the spotlight following claims from armchair detectives that she was the "real Martha" in Baby Reindeer.
After weeks of speculation, the Scot said that she had met comedian Richard Gadd years ago when he was a bartender at The Hawley Arms in London's Camden.
Speaking to The Scottish Sun she admitted to befriending him, but denied she ever stalked him.
As for how she discovered Baby Reindeer, Fiona said she first became aware of it when Richard took it to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as a one-man show.
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She said: “He’s come up with this character called Martha and he has put me right in the frame.
“This is a programme for the 20-somethings. The people with no lives, no jobs, whatever. I don’t want to be a celebrity.”
What is Baby Reindeer about?
Baby Reindeer follows Richard Gadd's character Donny as he works behind a bar while struggling to make it as a comic.
One day an emotional Martha walks in and he offers her a free cup of tea when she says she has no money.
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She tells him she is a lawyer, but it soon becomes clear there is more to Martha than meets the eye.
Over the coming episodes, Donny finds himself sent thousands of emails and texts from Martha, who affectionately refers to him as "Baby Reindeer".
Terrifying reason 'real Baby Reindeer stalker' outed herself
The series takes many dark twists and turns as it delves into the trauma from Donny's own past, as well as confronting Martha's demons.
The show has become a huge breakout hit for Netflix, garnering millions of viewers across the globe and topping the chart in more than thirty countries.
It has even won praise from the master of horror, bestselling author Stephen King.
What to do if you suspect you're being stalked
Tony Neate, CEO of Get Safe Online, tells Sun Online: “The perpetrators commonly obtain details about you via online information of personal and financial affairs, social and work life, relationships and your location.
As a starting point, ensure only the minimum information about you is available online and take stalking seriously.
Report it before it has serious effects on you and others and keep a record of all that takes place so you collate evidence whilst it is happening.
For expert advice visit ."
What has Richard Gadd said?
Shortly after Baby Reindeer was released in April 2024, Richard Gadd opened up about how important it was for him to tackle the tough themes highlighted in the autobiographical series.
He told : “When a man gets stalked, it can be portrayed in films and television as a sexy thing. Like a femme fatale who gradually becomes more sinister.”
He continued: “It doesn’t carry as much threat of physical violence, is less common and can be trivialised.
“I was physically scared because I didn’t know how far she could take it."
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He has admitted that some elements of the show have been dramatised to create added suspense.
However, Richard also urged viewers not to target or look for the real life woman that made his life so uncomfortable.
He also claimed he went to great lengths to conceal the identity of the woman who stalked him in real life.
Taking to social media Richard wrote: "People I love, have worked with, and admire… are unfairly getting caught up in speculation.
"Please don't speculate on who any of the real-life people could be. That's not the point of our show. Lots of love, Richard."
WARNING: The below contains some spoilers from Baby Reindeer
Did Fiona Harvey go to prison for 'stalking Richard Gadd'?
In the final episode of Baby Reindeer, viewers watched as Martha was jailed for stalking Donny.
This has led to fans wondering if Fiona ever went to jail for allegedly stalking Gadd.
Speaking to the , she said: “Gadd needs to prove I went to jail, which just didn’t happen.
"I’ve never been sent to jail. That is blatantly obvious."
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Is Fiona Harvey a lawyer?
Throughout Baby Reindeer the character of Martha claims to be a lawyer.
Fiona has also revealed she is a lawyer, and that she studied law in Aberdeen.
In fact, she told us that she will use her legal skills to 'sue Netflix' over her alleged representation in Baby Reindeer.
Speaking exclusively to The Scottish Sun, Fiona said: "I have a claim against Netflix as this is being billed as part of a true story.
“I’m a highly competent lawyer. I’d have to do it myself. I’m very good.
“I have a photographic memory and can memorise huge files. I was top in my school at everything.”
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Why is Fiona Harvey suing Netflix?
Fiona is suing Netflix, claiming Baby Reindeer has “destroyed” her life.
Her legal team have claimed she received death threats over the series, which was billed as a true story.
Fiona claims the streaming giant defamed her in its “unrestrained pursuit of adding more subscribers” and is suing in California for $170million.
Netflix has denied it defamed Ms Harvey, 48, and has asked for the case to be dismissed.
The company claimed her conduct in real life was “far worse” than Martha, the stalker in the show written by comedian Richard Gadd, and that Baby Reindeer was a work of fiction.
What has Fiona Harvey said on Twitter/X about Netflix's Baby Reindeer?
Shortly after the armchair detectives claimed that Fiona was the "real Martha" she hit out at Richard Gadd on social media.
She tweeted: "My boyfriend thinks Gadds is angry that he never freckin got me in the bedsheets.
"His main fantasy was to f**k me.
"He thinks that's what eats him up the most."
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What has Fiona Harvey said about Baby Reindeer's 'Martha', Jessica Gunning?
Fiona has also been very vocal about actress Jessica Gunning who plays Martha in Baby Reindeer.
Again speaking to The Scottish Sun, she had some very harsh words.
Fiona said: "There’s a fat actress that’s supposed to be me.
“He’s come up with this character called Martha and he has put me right in the frame."
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She added: "I don’t want to be a celebrity.”
Talented actress Jessica has enjoyed an incredible career so far, which includes starring in high profile shows like the comedy-drama The Outlaws which was directed by Stephen Merchant.
Baby Reindeer by numbers
The Netflix series has become quite the breakout smash hit...
- 7 Number of episodes in the series
- 30 Number of countries the series has topped the Netflix chart in
- 64 Percentage increase in viewers the show earned in its second week, compared to its first
- 97 The show's percentage score on industry bible Rotten Tomatoes
- 41,071 Amount of emails Richard claims he was sent by the real life Martha
- 13.3 million Number of viewers who tuned into the show during its first week
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