My Creative Hero: Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Meg works across all things social at neverland Creative, including brilliant brands such as Kopparberg, Tetley, giffgaff and Entain Group.
LBB> Who would you say is your creative hero?
Meg> My creative hero is writer and actor Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
LBB> How long has this person been important to you and what are your first memories of meeting them or coming across their work?
Meg> My first experience of her work was when I was introduced to ‘Fleabag’. I had just moved to London and the chaotic, liberating energy of the series really resonated with me at that point!
I was told it would take a few episodes to get used to the protagonist talking directly to camera and that it was worth persevering, but to be honest she had me from get go. I’m usually shamefully guilty of half-watching-half-scrolling through TV shows, but the theatre-like dialogue and intimacy of direct eye contact commands your full attention. From belly laughs to grief, it’s my first experience of a TV show that made me ache – in all senses of the word.
LBB> If it’s someone you personally know, how did you get to know them and how has your relationship evolved over the years? If you don’t know this person, how did you go about finding to learn more about them and their work?
Meg> Straight after ‘Fleabag’, I obviously rinsed ‘Killing Eve’ and I’ve also attended various talks on her work around London – I’m yet to see her in person though.
LBB> Why is the person such an inspiration to you?
Meg> I love the female characters Phoebe creates. She writes brilliant, sharp, audacious, flawed women – they are so refreshing and inspiring to me. Her work portrays leading women who are totally unyielding, which inspires us an audience to go after what we want… even if that happens to be a hot priest.
Phoebe herself is a relatable mix of confidence and awkwardness and she sees her own characters as something to learn from; she writes women who speak their mind, because she’s teaching herself to be one.
LBB> How does this person influence you in your approach to your creative work?
Meg> Truthful stories make better creative work! Especially working in social, where so much of what you view is elevated from the truth, people are craving honesty and authenticity. We’re so used to seeing glossy sugar-coated stories of people’s lives, the only thing that can truly surprise us now is upfront honesty.
I want to create content that shows the light and the dark, real people and real stories. Phoebe once said “As long as it’s pointing at the elephant, it’s always exciting” and she’s right. There’s nothing thrilling about perfection.
LBB> What piece or pieces of this person’s work do you keep coming back to and why?
Meg> I’ve rewatched ‘Fleabag’ on an almost quarterly basis all throughout my twenties (so far). I love the short episodes, the cutting & hilarious dialogue (so many quotes) and intricate character development. I know it so well that I can go back to specific scenes that are guaranteed to indulge whatever feeling I’m chasing - whether that’s empowerment, comic relief, catharsis or the simply just the validation that yes, hair is everything!
