Richard Gadd’s Transformative Take on HBO’s Half Man

Richard Gadd explains his dramatic physical transformation to play Ruben in HBO’s Half Man, recounting why he initially hesitated after Baby Reindeer and detailing how he changed his body, hair, beard and voice to become unrecognizable. He discusses the show’s premise of two non-blood brothers, the casting choices, and the 1980s UK context that informs its themes of male repression and violence, as well as the ending and viewers’ interpretation. The interview appears on Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast, where he also shares lighter moments like a tongue‑in‑cheek tuna and peanut butter hot take.