The gripping Netflix series Baby Reindeer, loosely based on comedian Richard Gadd’s real-life stalking ordeal, continues to send ripples through the internet. While the show features a character named Martha Scott, portrayed by Jessica Gunning, the real woman who inspired the role has been identified as Fiona Harvey, a Scottish lawyer. Now, adding another layer to this complex narrative, Laura Wray, also a lawyer and the widow of a former British MP, has come forward claiming she too was stalked by Harvey.
In a recent interview with Piers Morgan, Wray detailed her experiences with Harvey, who briefly worked at her law firm years before the events depicted in Baby Reindeer. Wray’s revelations came after Harvey herself appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored to deny Gadd’s portrayal and the stalking accusations.
Baby Reindeer’s “Martha” Saga Continues with New Stalking Accusations from a Lawyer.
Wray explained to Morgan that she connected the dots to Harvey after a Scottish publication inquired if she had watched Baby Reindeer. Upon watching the series, Wray immediately recognized the character “Martha” as Fiona Harvey. She noted the striking similarities in mannerisms and speech, praising Jessica Gunning’s performance for accurately capturing Harvey’s essence. “From the very beginning, it was obvious it was the same woman. It was Fiona Harvey,” Wray stated. “The actress [Gunning]… sounds like her, looks like her [and] mimicked her to a T.”
Adding to the sense of déjà vu, Wray confirmed that phrases used by the fictional Martha in Baby Reindeer were indeed similar to those Harvey used in her communications. “Yes,” Wray affirmed, “I have a file full of papers which are letters from her, emails, faxes and so forth and it’s all identical.” This echoes a plot point in the series where Gadd’s character, Donny Dunn, discovers online reports of Martha’s past stalking incidents, suggesting a pattern of behavior. Wray indicated that she was quickly identified after Baby Reindeer aired due to the specific and unusual nature of the depicted circumstances.
During her interview, Wray made serious allegations about Harvey’s conduct during her brief employment at the law firm. She described Harvey as “rude to staff,” alleging instances of shouting, inappropriate behavior towards a male colleague, and even an attempt to follow a staff member home. Wray further claimed that Harvey once threw a book across the office, hitting someone.
These accusations stand in stark contrast to Harvey’s own account given in her interview with Morgan. Harvey, the lawyer in question, claimed she was “head-hunted” by Wray’s firm for her expertise in employment law. She disputed Wray’s version of events, asserting that she left the firm because Wray’s staff were rude to her. Regarding the harassment allegations, Harvey vehemently denied them.
Morgan confronted Harvey with Wray’s claims, referencing reports in The Sun about Wray’s concerns for her staff’s safety and the alleged issuance of personal alarms. He also mentioned Wray’s assertion that an interim interdict – the Scottish equivalent of a restraining order – was served against Harvey. However, Harvey dismissed this, stating, “That’s nonsense. [I] checked this out. There is no interim interdict in Scotland.”
Since her interview with Morgan and the subsequent media attention, Harvey has expressed intentions to sue both Richard Gadd and Netflix. She also revealed that she felt undervalued for her interview with Morgan, reportedly being offered only $315. Harvey stated in another interview that she would “settle” for £1 million (approximately $1.25 million USD) from Morgan.
Despite the real-life drama surrounding Baby Reindeer, the series continues to captivate audiences. In its eighth week on Netflix, it remained in the Top 10 Global TV Shows, demonstrating its enduring popularity and the public’s fascination with this unsettling story. For the week of May 27-June 2, Baby Reindeer garnered 2.8 million views, translating to 11.3 million hours watched, according to Netflix’s official data. The ongoing narrative, blurring the lines between fiction and reality, keeps viewers and now, other lawyers, engaged in the unfolding saga of the real-life Martha Scott.
