Fiona Harvey, the ‘real’ Martha who inspired Baby Reindeer stalker character, sues Netflix for $A255 million

The woman claiming to have inspired his Netflix series Baby Reindeer has filed a defamation lawsuit against the streaming platform fora laundry list of alleged offences.

Fiona Harvey is seeking at least $US170 million ($A255 million), acc

She has accused the streaming platform of defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, gross negligence, and violations of her right of publicity in the lawsuit filed at the Californian federal court.

It comes after she claimed to be the inspiration behind the character of Martha Scott, who stalks Baby Reindeer creator and star Richard Gadd’s character Donny Dunn after he serves her a free cup of tea in the pub where he works.

The breakaway show is said to be based on the real-life experiences of comedian and writer Gadd, who was allegedly stalked and sexually assaulted in his 20s.

After the show aired, he asked viewers not to speculate over the real people who inspired the series.

In the new lawsuit, Harvey has accused Netflix of spreading “brutal lies”, including that she is a “twice convicted stalker who was sentenced to five years in prison”.

“Defendants told these lies, and never stopped, because it was a better story than the truth, and better stories made money,” it states.

“As a result of defendants’ lies, malfeasance and utterly reckless misconduct, Harvey’s life had been ruined.”

The court documents allege Netflix “did literally nothing” to confirm that the story represented was true, stating that “Harvey has never been convicted of any crime and has never been to prison”.

The lawsuit seeks actual damages and compensatory damages at $US50 million ($A75 million) each; punitive damages at $US20 million ($A30 million); as well as “all profits” from Baby Reindeer at $US50 million ($A75 million).

A representative for Netflix and Gadd have been contacted for comment.

Harvey has previously warned that she would pursue legal action against Netflix over the series.

She denies the portrayal of her likeness, Martha, as a serial stalker who is jailed twice for the crime — once before meeting Gadd’s character and against for stalking him — and of the character barraging Donny Dunn with thousands of emails, voice messages, letters, and social media messages.

Harvey told the Daily Record: “If I can’t get that show to shut down easily, if they don’t give me the money – and I’m talking £1 million – ­politicians will shut the show down.”

She also threatened to pursue a million-dollar payout for an interview with Piers Morgan on his YouTube channel, accusing the journalist of paying her a “piddling sum” for her exclusive sit-down interview on his program Uncensored.

Harvey, the Daily Record reports, was unimpressed that she was paid only £250 ($A475) for the exclusive interview on Morgan’s YouTube show that has clocked millions of views since it aired on May 9.

Harvey said she would “settle for a million” pounds for the interview — or more than $A1.9 million.