Fiona Harvey, who is the inspiration behind Martha from Netflix’s Baby Reindeer, has claimed she’s going blind due to the mounting stress from the series
Fiona Harvey, the inspiration behind Martha from Baby Reindeer, has said she’s going blind. The Scot who inspired the character in Richard Gadd’s series is currently embroiled in a multi-million-dollar defamation lawsuit with streaming giant Netflix.
But the 59-year-old law graduate has said the stress surrounding the Netflix series has caused her so much stress, which she has linked to her diagnosis of background retinopathy. “I’m going blind, and it’s not surprising with the stress I have been under as a result of Baby Reindeer,” she said.
In a new interview, Fiona said: “I am diabetic and had always been able to keep my blood sugars under control, but my blood sugars have been wild ever since Richard Gadd’s show aired.” She says that since the series, which has racked up countless awards, aired, she has not been able to sleep or eat properly.
“I’m not able to get proper exercise because I’m virtually a prisoner in my own home,” she said. Fiona received a confirmation letter from a hospital on Thursday after undergoing eye tests at a London hospital. The condition is a complication which affects people with diabetes.
It happens when high blood sugar levels damage light-sensitive tissues at the back of the eye. Although stage one of the condition doesn’t always affect vision, there is a likelihood that it could lead to significant vision loss. Speaking to the Daily Record, Fiona said: “It is something that diabetics can get if your sugars are out of control. My sugars were fine until Baby Reindeer, that led to all my physical health problems.
“I don’t have money for proper food. I feel it could lead to blindness very quickly in both eyes.” A letter from a doctor, seen by the publication, reads: “Dear Dr Fiona Harvey, Your test results show that you do have background retinopathy.” The letter also states that Fiona needs to manage her health in order to prevent any further damage.
The series, which aired over a year ago, has seen Fiona identify herself as the woman who allegedly stalked Gadd while he was working in London. The series was billed as a “true story,” which showed the character, Martha, following him to his home, his workplace at The Hawley Arms in Camden and various other locations.
But since its release, it has become quite controversial. Harvey has filed a £132 million defamation lawsuit against the streaming giant that released the series, claiming she was easily identifiable as Martha. Netflix have defended the lawsuit and Mr Gadd’s “right to tell his story.”
The hearing is said to be delayed until next year due to a series of appeals, as well as requests for adjournments. In the series, Martha was sent to jail twice, but Ms Harvey has no criminal convictions. She told the Record: “I have no criminal record. I am not Myra Hindley. I am not Rose West.
“I’m not Dennis Nilsen. I have not received an indefinite life sentence. My life was normal before this started. Mr Gadd has made my life intolerable. I’ve had to send people out to do the food shopping. I can’t have workmen in my house, lest they go off to Netflix.” Now living in a “cramped” flat in London, she says: “At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before I will lose my sight.
“I have cataracts as well, so I have difficulty typing on a little screen, but due to NHS resources, they won’t operate until you are practically blind. I will be stuck on a waiting list, and I will go blind. So congratulations, Richard Gadd. He can strut around while the rest of us involved in this saga have to suffer.”
While Ms Harvey states she has been defamed in the series, Netflix have said the alleged defamatory statements are non-actionable as they are “substantially true.” Harvey fumed: “The court case gives Netflix loads and loads of publicity, and they hope I’ll withdraw the motion or just die off.”
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