Phoebe Waller-Bridge's 'Fleabag' is NOT Autobiographical! | Close Up With THR

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Phoebe Waller-Bridge ('Fleabag') joins The Hollywood Reporter for this season's Comedy Showrunner Roundtable. In this episode of Close Up she shares the often misconstrued fact that 'Fleabag' is autobiographical.
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Scott Silveri ('Speechless'), David Mandel ('Veep'), Judd Apatow ('Girls', 'Crashing', 'Love'), Gloria Calderon Kellett ('One Dat at a Time') and Kenya Barris ('Black-ish').
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[@valhalla1240]

Her difficulty with the questions about "feminist writing" is very relatable. It's not crazy to feel uncomfortable about that, because even if you are identifying with feminism in some way, in that moment, you are still reduced to your gender. You are seen as a _female_ writer that writes about _female_ issues... no one entertains the thought that perhaps these issues could relate on a larger scale. Women are constantly presumed to identify with male characters and perspectives. No one interprets them as male. They are just perspectives. But when a woman gives a perspective it's always reduced to gender.

[@thyop89]

Very well put

[@silviasuppo6450]

Amen!

[@thebluedan]

Valhalla To me it just comes across as good honest writing. Yes it is a perspective and very strong character...I felt a person, that yes is female but more specifically herself, a human being, living all the unlabeled parts that make us up. I felt like the only thing that maybe sets the writing as feminist is perhaps the framing of the modern environment that she builds around the character, it comes through but not as a hammer...hard for me to explain, especially as a man that is, if being honest annoyed by modern feminism. People do a disservice to her work of writing by reducing it just feminist and some special category, it transcends. I don’t like to reduce things, people are much more complex. More the reason to enjoy them. Anyway this is some of the best writing and acting i have seen in a long time...Character! This to me always over plot.

[@Sciencespipo]

SEX, not gender. Why so many people use them interchangeably is mind-boggling.

[@valhalla1240]

@@Sciencespipo it's because english isn't my first language and in my country sex and gender are one word.

[@extenebrislux]

I can't believe that Fleabag and Killing Eve come from the same person.

[@charlie5115]

extenebrislux Oh I can very much believe it

[@tetestephanie]

Why? She's amazing and can do anything except Downton Abbey hahaha

[@beetleything1864]

Seem similar to me.

[@Ii-ex5jr]

i like both！

[@extenebrislux]

Because I didn't like Fleabag S1 at all. I though it wasn't going anywhere, was messy and sloppy, and she would just make me angry lol. Loved Killing Eve though, it felt much more "mature". So I decided to give Fleabag S2 a go and I loved it! I'll probably go over Fleabag S1 again...

[@uncleiroh5061]

U can be a writer that’s also a feminist without being a “feminist writer”. Geniuses like Phoebe don’t write with that intention, rather they’re wired in a way that it comes through naturally and organically. There’s a difference.

[@jehdsbs]

I 100% agree

[@2ndRatePetronius]

I love how the thing that TRULY impresses all the other comedy show runners in this round table is not that Phoebe was in two shows simultaneously but that she auditioned for DOWNTON ABBEY lol.

[@oscarfun100]

And now it's like "So you won 3 Emmys in 1 night, you're writing the best shows these days... adn you auditioned for Downton frekin' Abbey?!"

[@shukry533]

When i discovered Phoebe, people kept telling me to watch Fleabag. I thought it was available on Netflix, so i searched her name on Netflix. After a few episodes i just realised i was watching Crashing the whole time, because i didnt really paid attention to the title. I just know shes in it. The show was great! Then knowing theres another entire show written and starred by her, i felt like i was receiving a gift! I binged all seasons of Fleabag in the span of 1 day and devastated knowing it is ended in second season, though it was a perfect ending. Now i just binged Killing Eve, you can say im obsessed to this woman. Genius af

[@asmitachatterjee5146]

I'm obsessed too. She's a bad-ass goddess.

[@MorleyQ]

3:23 You can see just how quick and sharp her mind is here; she rattles off an incredibly salient point about taking pride in your work and how stress can illuminate that. 4:38 That happened to me too! I was in speech & debate in high school and performed a dramatic, tragic story about a funeral director, which was apparently hilarious the way I delivered it.

[@jameshorro4978]

shes like a mix of keira knightly and miranda hart

[@selinas7322]

EXACTLY

[@Sioakela]

Holy shit. I was with friends, sitting around watching Fleabag together, and commented EXACTLY the same thing!

[@beetleything1864]

Knightly is wooden wooden wooden

[@melkuru]

there is a bit of eva green there too

[@peteradaniel]

She's much better than both. And why not compare her to Judd Apatow instead?

[@tashazalinski5250]

Wack. Crashing was a fave of mine, then I watched Killing Eve and I loved it. Just finished binging Fleabag, thought it was brilliant, then realised she wrote all three (and stared in two!). She’s incredible.

[@asterismos5451]

Crashing is so good! It's what I first knew her from and I loved it but hardly anyone seems to know of it.

[@s.leochapman417]

She is hilarious and utterly charming. So intelligent and such a good writer. Fleabag is fantastic. She's very posh too, but doesn't come across as haughty or condescending.

[@muppetmaddy1999]

S. Leo Chapman she’s not posh, just southern English 😂

[@s.leochapman417]

@@muppetmaddy1999 Hehe, sorry, I should have said "seems posh" to a foreign ear like mine! :P A big hello from your neighbours in Ireland anyway. ;)

[@zinfandel61]

@@s.leochapman417 She sounds posh to me and I'm from southern England; but not posh! 😁

[@davehoward22]

her familys full of double barrelled names ,sirs,and a baronet....she is pretty posh

[@poonchop]

@@muppetmaddy1999 look her up on Wikipedia. She is as posh as they come.

[@danielharmon15]

Crashing (which you can catch on Netflix) is one of my all-time favorite comedies!

[@RedHaidCat]

Fabulous! Could listen to her all day.

[@MotorCityPhoenix313]

I love Phoebe so much!! Fleabag and Crashing were SO good! She is hilarious in both!

[@AB-mh6nj]

I can watch her speaking all day. She is so charismatic

[@DarkDeviations]

She is the best. Love you Phoebe.

[@juliet3827]

Look at these Hollywood heavyweights listening intently to this brilliantly creative woman eager to gain insight into her methodology, etc. A rare thing.

[@asmitachatterjee5146]

She's better than them by a stone's throw!

[@gariavanesyan1557]

Phoebe Waller-Bridge builds up a powerful argument that being funny is sometimes enough to become a female comedian in this century. Even though the clip was taken from several parts of the whole interview, Bridge builds a convincing and coherent argument that follows a simple logic. Her confidence carries off in the interview, even though the other conversation-takers do not seem to share the same view.

[@tittycurds]

She is such a brilliant writer. Love her!

[@TheFarCobra]

She is posh sounding and sweary .... perfection!

[@Michael-xi9nb]

Quite surreal to see her on this roundtable! Wish she had been on the actress one, though.

[@Beauferal]

Really enjoyed Fleabag! What a fantastic writer, actress and general visual media person! X

[@saranovak]

Haha the end with the audition for Downtown Abbey. I can imagine the casting people shocked and suprised but also soooo impressed! She is incredible!

[@dynaco]

Killing Eve is SOOOO good!

[@scottielambert9312]

That is a lovely human being from this perspective. Amazes me to be truthful.

[@chefawkes]

she divorced 6 months later. i have a chance.

[@VhsVcr]

WHAt?

[@jessica5497]

What??? x2

[@irfancura6724]

I am a priest, get out of my way! 😁

[@cmcgurk1]

Loved her in broadchurch now I need to watch fleabag

[@ragnarlothbrok5650]

Finally 3 years later the second season dropped, what a great show fleabag is

[@peachesmcgee4795]

That surreal bit in the train was hilarious!

[@Jasmin-fd3ny]

How are there any dislikes in this video... she is so hilarious. This was a great video.

[@aliceabc]

Oh I've already watched this... Well nevermind I'll just watch it again

[@barbaralima7668]

I love this woman

[@jbt6007]

Ms. Waller-Bridge is fabulous!

[@chandrakantsharda3525]

1:42 lol

[@nicknicknick5305]

I belive Phoebe and Olivia Colman nominee an Emmy Awards in this year in 'Fleabag' .

[@bertagriese8282]

What a keeper

[@MariaLuisa-vv4ug]

Watching this in 2020, she's no longer married

[@jumpforjoy6]

This was in 2017 which is the same year she divorced so she prob knew it here

[@Harry.O]

Would like to see her do stand up comedy we need more women in comedy

[@AliceP.]

3:48 can't understand what was the joke here :( Someone?

[@mariavcamp]

Because both of them have shows called Crashing! :)

[@juliacheetham2734]

Because his name is Adam (Adam and Eve)?

[@razmataz13drums]

Judd I did nto sit through a laundry detergent commercial, I have ad blocker, im not a peasant

[@Styvenxox]

F O C K I NN G loveeeeeee Phoebe waller-bridge!!!!!!

[@HeartAlivee]

Poor Phoebe, she has to say it so many times

[@dougsteeleguitar]

She's a fuckin' rock star!!!

[@StephenDMHodge]

A lot of people are betting on her becoming the next Doctor Who.

[@MotorCityPhoenix313]

Steve Hundur didn't get the role, but after watching Fleabag I could definitely see her as the doctor. She can do comedy and drama so well.

[@genevievebroun291]

I would watch that so hard

[@nkfanning]

I doubt they'd have two female doctors in a row

[@Foople30]

My dear little jackrussel was called Frida after Frida Kahlo. 16 years of saying 'Frida' did me well. My one year old cat is called 'Phoebe'. You get it right? Not woke or latent lesbian, or weird or needy. Just out and out feminist and creative and talented. Right. 💪😎

[@davelydon1982]

I love her brill actor 😃😄😁🙂😉😊😘😗

[@MCFrutek]

*"she's not charismatic enough to be an adventurer, she's not charming enough to be a rough, she's not attractive enough to be a femme fatal, she's not funny enough to be comic relief"*

[@vanshikathakur]

❤️

[@harrypotteravenclaw]

The fact that there are only three women at the table, and one is the interviewer

[@misha84]

not married anymore...

[@aloap0907]

yayyyyyy

[@CheshireCat01]

Those people sitting with her seem to laugh in a so fake way

[@chrissie1066]

BBC CANADA PULEEASE!!!

[@carolinamoran5666]

Iam the only one who thinks the laughs sound like a creepy machiavellian background?

[@krubhadn778]

She cud hve played Diana Spencer

[@MayorSom]

She has that uncomfortable, supercilious geriatric shoreditch/Wimbledon vibe. Fleabag is the most insufferable thing on the telly, worse than Gilmore Girls.

[@3mundi]

She's responsible for the worst ever character in Star Wars

[@joshholmes877]

I mean surely it's the writer of the film is it not?

[@TheRyanMode]

Jar Jar Binks

[@thyop89]

She played the role, she's not responsible, the writer and character design team are. Also, L2 was in no way the worst character in Star Wars history. She has quite the fanbase and her existence has sparked a dialogue on droid rights.

[@jessica5497]

Are you dumb? Or trying really hard? She didnt write, actors as much as myths say the opposite, they can do nothing if there is nothing on paper