Elizabeth Day

Halfman tells the story of two brothers, played by Gad and Jamie Bell, over several decades, exploring the knotty bonds of trauma, the long legacy of violence, and the intense fragility and fear at the heart of male relationships.

Gad created, wrote, and exec-produced Halfman.

But despite his success, he insists that I never wanted fame.

I just liked the idea that one day I would make a piece of art that was culturally important because then maybe I would learn to like myself.

Richard Gad, welcome to How to Fail.

Oh, thank you.

Well, your work means a lot to me.

And I'm really thrilled that you're here.

And you have a way of speaking in interviews that conveys these really profound truths in these kind of soundbites.

And that idea of

Wanting to create something that would make you like yourself, I so relate to.

And I just wonder if I can ask with a very easy, straightforward question, Richard Gad, how much do you like yourself now?

Yes, and also I wonder if there's part of you that feels the internal discomfort is what is the engine for creation.

So if you cure yourself of everything, then there's no more creativity.

Do you worry about that?

That's not too dark.

No, it's a great place to kick off.

I just wanted to say something about the quality of your work because you do tackle these dark subjects and yet they are so compulsively conveyed that as a viewer, I cannot stop myself from watching.

And I don't know how you do that, but are there ever moments that you worry this is going to be too much?

Were you surprised by the global scale of how popular Baby Reindeer was?