Anatomy of a Scandal launched on Netflix on April 15 and many viewers are already hooked. Following a scandal among elite members of British society, the series delivers thrills as viewers discover who the real culprit may be. Anatomy of a Scandal could easily draw inspiration from real events, but is it based on a true story? Here’s what you should know.
Rupert Friend as James Whitehouse and Sienna Miller as Sophie Whitehouse in Anatomy of a Scandal. | Ana Cristina Blumenkroon
What is “Anatomy of a Scandal” about?
Created by Big Little Lies author David E. Kelley, Anatomy of a Scandal tells the story of British Secretary of Parliament James Whitehouse (Rupert Friend). James and his wife Sophie (Sienna Miller) live a seemingly perfect life together until James has an affair and is accused of sexual assault. Sophie stands by him and believes he’s innocent, but attorney Kate Woodcroft (Michelle Dockery) is determined to prove James’ guilt.
“Attorney Kate Woodcroft has her own path, and her prosecution threatens to hurt Westminster, the White House marriage and her own personal esteem,” the official synopsis read.
As the story unfolds, Sophie questions James’ story. Meanwhile, James must deal with the public aftermath of the scandal. Will this case tear James and Sophie apart forever?
Anatomy of a Scandal is not a true story, it is based on a book
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Given the #MeToo movement, many viewers may be wondering if this story is related to real events. It’s not based on any specific scandal, but Kelley and director SJ Clarkson adapted Anatomy of a Scandal from Sarah Vaughan’s book of the same name. And Vaughan was inspired by her days as a reporter for British publication The Guardian, as Pop Sugar notes. She often covered British political scandals, as well as health stories.
In a 2018 blog post for a bookstore called Waterstones, Vaughan shared exactly what inspired her to write Anatomy of a Scandal. She explained that reporting on political scandals exposed her “power, privilege and entitlement.” Vaughan wrote:
“I’ve watched charismatic, psychologically complex characters at work – and seen how the truth can be veiled. Nuances of language became increasingly important as Number 10 denied claims that they had “beefed up” the dossier in weapons of mass destruction. “Off-the-record” and “deep background” added layers of meaning below the official line.”
Director SJ Clarkson shared why she wanted to adapt the book for television
Michelle Dockery as Kate Woodcroft in Anatomy of a Scandal. | Netflix
Much like Vaughan, Clarkson saw Anatomy of a Scandal as an opportunity to shed light on privilege within the political world. As Metro reported, the director shared that she finished the book in “a day and a half” and knew it had potential for the small screen. She said it would raise questions “about wealth, privilege, entitlement, and men raised to believe they own the world.”
“I knew right away that this was going to be a gripping psychological thriller, a gripping courtroom drama, and a story about a marriage falling apart very publicly,” Clarkson continued. “But at the same time, I saw that it would divide people and get them talking about some of the biggest issues of our time.”
All episodes of Anatomy of a Scandal are now streaming on Netflix. Stay tuned to the Showbiz Cheat Sheet for more updates.
How to get help: In the United States, call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained sexual assault service provider representative in your area.
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