Richard Gadd wanted to mine toxic masculinity in ‘Half Man.’ The result is a brutal brotherhood

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Just two years ago, Richard Gadd was a working actor when his life was unexpectedly turned upside down. His 2024 Netflix show, “Baby Reindeer,” which powerfully details his experience with sexual assault, quickly made him famous.

Gadd recalls that after the show premiered on Thursday, he was immediately recognizable in public by Sunday. “It was a shock,” he said during a recent visit to The Times. “I always imagined fame would build slowly, but it happened overnight, and I didn’t have time to get used to it.”

Having won three Emmy Awards and many other honors for his work as the star, writer, and showrunner of his previous series, 36-year-old Gadd has quickly followed it up with another powerfully emotional show.

The new HBO series “Half Man,” debuting Thursday, explores the harmful side of traditional masculinity through the complex relationship between two men, Niall and Ruben. Though raised like brothers – their mothers are a couple – they are very different people.

Niall, a shy and bullied boy who lost his father early in life, harbors a secret dream of becoming a writer. In contrast, Ruben, played with confidence and a rebellious streak, has a history of trouble with the law and quickly turns to violence. Despite their differences, Ruben unexpectedly takes Niall under his wing, and the two form a close bond. However, as time passes and unspoken resentments grow, their complicated friendship threatens to destroy them both.

According to Bell, Richard’s writing is truly one-of-a-kind. Speaking from England while filming the ‘Peaky Blinders’ sequel with a new, shorter haircut, Bell explained that Richard excels at capturing the complexities of human nature and giving voice to the uncomfortable thoughts and feelings we all have in private.

In 2019, while still performing his live show ‘Baby Reindeer’ – which would later become a TV series – Gadd began writing the first episode of what eventually became ‘Half Man’. He remembers this was a time when discussions about harmful masculinity and sexual assault were becoming widespread, fueled by the growing #MeToo movement.

Awards

The Netflix series inspired by the comic creator’s life became a huge success, dramatically changing his career. He’s now turning his attention to more ambitious and meaningful projects.

You know, I didn’t start with a clear idea for a show, exactly. It was more like a thought just floated into my head: what if we took two men who are really holding things in, feeling stifled by modern life? Then, we’d go back and explore their childhoods, showing why they became that way. By looking at what they learned growing up, and any tough experiences they had, we could understand the roots of their behavior as adults. It’s about giving some context to why men sometimes struggle with difficult emotions and actions today.

After “Baby Reindeer” helped launch his career, Gadd paused work on “Half Man” for four years, but he kept wanting to revisit it. He remembers feeling eager to return to the project even while finishing “Baby Reindeer.” As soon as “Baby Reindeer” was done, he immediately decided to make “Half Man” his next focus.

Meeting Callum Gadd in person makes his performance in “Half Man” even more striking. He’s a considerate and passionate person, a stark contrast to Ruben, the intimidating character he plays, who naturally evokes fear.

Ryan Gadd, who powerfully portrays Ruben’s anger in the show, initially didn’t plan to act in “Half Man.” After taking on various roles in “Baby Reindeer,” he wanted to step back and focus solely on the writing and showrunning for this new project. However, those around him convinced him to perform again.

He remembers his first reaction to new opportunities was always questioning whether they fit his experience. He’d think, ‘This is completely different from what I usually do. Will anyone even be interested?’ But he realized that all those doubts stemmed from worrying about other people’s opinions, and he believes that’s never a good enough reason to hold yourself back.

I have to admit, when I heard the actor from “Baby Reindeer” was taking on a “hard man” role – that’s British slang for a really tough guy – I was skeptical. Could he pull it off? Apparently, he knew the audience might feel the same way, so he completely transformed himself. He didn’t just work on the character’s attitude; he hit the gym hard and completely revamped his diet to physically become this new, intimidating figure. It was a total physical commitment, and honestly, it paid off.

He remembers having meals prepared by a chef in England and shipped to Scotland, where he was working on a film. He explains that he ate at set times, as the job involved periods of fasting and dehydration – especially when filming shirtless. He says it all required a surprisingly scientific approach.

Despite initially being concerned about appearing physically imposing enough for the role, Gadd deliberately chose not to portray Ruben as overly muscular or focused on superficial appearance.

Gadd explains he didn’t want the actor to have a sculpted physique. He wanted him to appear authentic and relatable. He feels that overly muscular bodies seen on television often don’t convey genuine strength. He specifically admired that the actor, Ruben, had a more natural, lived-in body type – heavier and bulkier rather than ‘ripped’ – which felt more genuine.

Before taking on the role himself, Gadd tried out many actors, but he found they all emphasized the character’s strong physical presence over his internal struggles. He explains, “Ruben is a deeply sad, damaged, and traumatized person.”

For his role, Richard Gadd gained weight to appear more physically strong and substantial, reflecting his character Ruben’s life experiences. He described Ruben as ‘heavy set’ but not ‘ripped,’ emphasizing a natural, bulky physique. (Anne Binckebanck / HBO)

Someone asked me if I think our guy, Ruben, is really himself lately, and it got me thinking. He paused, wondering if he was just tired from traveling or if a part of him genuinely doesn’t connect with who Ruben used to be. It’s like he’s questioning if he even recognizes that side of himself anymore.

He was asked if he identified with the character Ruben. After a moment of thought, he admitted that Ruben’s actions stem from a significant past trauma, something he personally understands. He explained that, like Ruben, he’s found it very challenging to move on from difficult experiences and to accept himself afterward.

Bell, age 40, now readily admits he connects with his character on a personal level. He explains that as a teen, he was drawn to people who were rebellious. “I was raised by women without a father figure, and I always felt vulnerable, needing someone strong and protective,” he says. “I completely get why Niall feels comforted by someone like Ruben – there’s a sense of security in knowing no one would mess with him.”

Gadd prefers not to consider an actor’s fame when casting. He believes focusing on celebrity status can derail a project, turning it into a showcase for the actor rather than a good story. He wants the focus to be on the work itself, not who’s performing it.

The casting director for “Half Man” asked Gadd who he’d ideally like to cast, and Gadd said Bell was the only actor he could imagine in the role. He wondered if it was even possible, though. “I hadn’t yet had the success of ‘Baby Reindeer,’ so I initially thought someone like Bell wouldn’t be interested,” Gadd explained. “But then I started to think, maybe he would be.”

Bell was drawn to the character of Niall, a man struggling with his identity and constantly trying to escape who he really is, especially while living in the shadow of Ruben. Bell found Niall’s internal conflicts fascinating. “Niall hides his true self in many ways and deeply dislikes himself, yet he’s also ambitious and believes he’s special and that others just don’t understand him,” Bell said with a laugh.

Besides the quick turnaround needed for “Half Man,” Bell found it challenging to match the level of emotional intensity Richard Gadd wanted. “I wasn’t really ready for that, so I often misread scenes,” Bell remembers with a laugh. “We’d start a scene and Richard would point out I was at a ‘6’ when it needed to be an ’11.’ I had to quickly adjust to his expectations.”

Gadd believes Bell is a talented but overlooked actor. As a Scotsman himself, Gadd particularly enjoyed Bell’s performance in the 2007 film “Hallam Foe,” where Bell played a Scottish character. For the role of Niall in “Half Man,” Gadd felt Bell could portray the character’s inner pain, even while his behavior suggests he’s not simply a victim, but actively contributes to the turmoil.

Jamie always struck me as incredibly vulnerable, and I anticipated taking Niall through a challenging arc that would really push the audience to see how far their support would go,” Gadd explains. He feels it’s perfectly understandable that Niall is drawn to Ruben, believing we’re all conditioned by stories like fables and fairy tales to be attracted to strong, heroic figures.

Gadd points out that, whether we realize it or not, we tend to be attracted to dominant, ‘alpha’ types. This is because, from a young age, we’re taught that these individuals are at the top of the social ladder, and as a result, we’ve historically looked to them for leadership.

Even though he admits he doesn’t know much about the online “manosphere” – a community known for its negative views on women and strong beliefs about traditional masculinity – Gadd doesn’t think Ruben would be influenced by its self-proclaimed experts who offer advice on how young men can become “real men.”

Gad believes Ruben forged his own identity as a man. He admits it’s hard to praise Ruben, but acknowledges that traditional notions of success wouldn’t matter to him. Ruben is independent and a leader, not a follower – he’s the type of person others look up to, not the other way around, and wouldn’t bother with social media.

You know, looking at the stuff James Gadd is making now, it’s a bit surprising to hear he used to dream of doing something like the British “The Office.” He actually thinks it’s a masterpiece! But honestly, his current work feels much more personal – it really seems to reflect his own anxieties and what he’s been through in life. It’s like he’s finally telling his own stories, and they’re way more revealing than anything he might have done trying to copy a sitcom.

My life changed suddenly and significantly, and I realized I wasn’t interested in lighthearted, workplace comedies anymore. When I was starting out as a comedian, I dreamed of writing a sitcom where all the characters were amusing. However, recent experiences led me to need to explore darker themes in my work, because my life took a very difficult turn.

Okay, so “Half Man” isn’t completely without laughs – some of the characters’ responses to really tough situations actually made me chuckle. But it seems like the writer/director, Gadd, has a good sense of humor and is exploring that elsewhere too. I just found out he’s in this new Apple TV series called “Husbands,” and he’s already filmed his parts! It sounds wild – it’s based on a popular novel and stars Juno Temple as a woman who essentially gets a different husband every time she flips a light switch in her attic. Seriously, the premise is bonkers, and I’m definitely intrigued.

Look, I’m pretty selective about the projects I choose. I really enjoy creating my own material, so if something is going to pull me away from that and onto someone else’s show, it has to be exceptional. And honestly, this one was. It really stood out and felt worth the detour.

“Everything I do doesn’t have to be dark,” he adds with a soft smile.

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2026-04-23 13:37