HBO’s Half-Man: Richard Gadd in Conversation with Jessica Shaw

Richard Gadd is a three-time Emmy-winning actor, writer, and producer who has established himself as a mainstay in the industry and one of the most distinct creative voices in television today.

Gadd most recently starred in, wrote, and executive produced HBO and BBC One's original six-part drama series, Half Man. The series received widespread critical acclaim and earned Gadd an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. Set in Glasgow, the drama follows the relationship between two estranged stepbrothers, Niall and Ruben, over the course of thirty years. In the series, Richard stars as Ruben Pallister opposite Jamie Bell as Niall Kennedy. Stuart Campbell and Mitchell Roberson play their young counterparts. Half Man, produced by Mam Tor Productions and Thistledown Pictures, was directed by Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck and has been lauded for its exploration of masculinity and repression.

Up next, Richard is set to appear in the Apple TV comedy-drama series The Husbands alongside Juno Temple, Daniel Ings, Joel Kinnaman, Joe Alwyn, and Tom Basden. The series, produced by A24, is based on the acclaimed book of the same name by Holly Gramazio and follows Lauren (Temple), whose attic seems to be creating an endless supply of husbands.

Richard first gained widespread recognition for his writing and performance as Donny Dunn in the Netflix hit adaptation of his Olivier Award-winning stage play, Baby Reindeer. Based on the true story of his experience with a real-life stalker, portrayed by Jessica Gunning, the play premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2019 before transferring to a sold-out run at London's Bush Theatre. Baby Reindeer sat at number one on Netflix globally for several weeks after release, receiving eighty million views in just a month and entering the platform's Top Ten most-watched shows of all time. The series was an awards darling, winning a total of ten Emmy nominations and six wins, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, and Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. Gadd also notably won in the Best Writer: Drama category at the BAFTA TV Awards, where Baby Reindeer received a total of eight nominations. The show and Gadd had further success at the Golden Globes Awards, SAG Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards, Film Independent Spirit Awards, Gotham Awards, PGA Awards, and TCA Awards.

As a comedian, his stage shows have garnered critical and mainstream success. In 2016, Richard’s show Monkey See Monkey Do debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, before transferring to a sell-out run at Soho Theatre. The multi-award-winning play, including a Best Show Edinburgh Comedy Award, follows Richard’s crazed inner monologue of his state of mind as he jogs on a treadmill, relaying the anxiety that has taken over his mind as a result of a sexual assault. The play was subsequently broadcast on Comedy Central and toured internationally around the world. His other shows include 2013’s Cheese and Crack Whores, 2014's Breaking Gadd, and 2015’s stand-out Edinburgh Fringe hit Waiting for Gaddot.

Richard’s previous acting credits include BBC Two’s BAFTA-nominated Against the Law, Clique, One Normal Night, Code 404, and Tripped. He is also known for his writing for Netflix’s Sex Education, Dave’s Ultimate Worrier, and C4's The Last Leg.

Jessica Shaw hosts The Pop Culture Spotlight on SiriusXM, where she interviews actors, directors, and writers about their latest projects and the meaningful moments in their careers. Prior to being on the mic, she was at the keyboard, as a senior writer at Entertainment Weekly, where she wrote the “What to Watch” and “The Shaw Report” columns. She has explored everything from the cult of Barbra Streisand fans to retracing her own family roots for the New York Times, Vanity Fair, and Town & Country. She lives in Brooklyn with her family and badly-behaved dog.