Butterfly (2018 TV series)
A family drama about an 11-year-old transgender girl.
Butterfly, a three-episode British drama, aired on ITV from 14 October 2018. It follows 11-year-old Maxine, who comes to understand she is a transgender girl. Produced by Red Production Company, the series later aired in several European nations and on Hulu in the United States.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Drama
- Creator
- Tony Marchant
- Director
- Anthony Byrne
- Composer
- Michael Stein; Kyle Dixon
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Series
- 1
- Episodes
- 3
Facts from the source article.
Production
Tony Marchant created and wrote the programme, having previously written Different for Girls, a 1996 film about an adult trans woman, and family-related programmes Kid in the Corner and Bad Blood. Marchant found the idea of "the fluidity of gender" appealing. Susie Green, UK director of the charity Mermaids, served as lead consultant; her experiences with her transgender daughter Jackie, who at age 16 became the youngest British girl to receive sex reassignment surgery in 2010, share similarities with the storyline. During writing, Marchant visited families supported by Mermaids to hear their experiences. He aimed to counter myths that transgender children identify as such to be "trendy" and that puberty blockers are easily accessible. Filming began in January 2018 and concluded in March 2018. Callum Booth-Ford, a cisgender boy, was cast as Maxine after around five actors auditioned. Marchant considered casting a trans child but was told by Mermaids it would be "really difficult and painful" for a trans actor; Green added that anonymity was a factor. ITV announced the miniseries in September 2017 along with Anna Friel's casting as Vicky. Emmett J. Scanlan, cast as Stephen, read all three scripts in one sitting and aimed to treat the subject with "utmost honesty and care". Friel, who had little knowledge of transgender people before the project, hoped to change public perception of transgender children. Marchant noted a common theme among Mermaids families was the presence of mothers and absence of fathers. Scanlan and Friel visited families Mermaids works with before filming. Friel listened to synth-pop and wore a specific perfume to get into her character's mindset.
Cast
Callum Booth-Ford plays Maxine Duffy, a trans girl who has wanted to wear girls' clothing since age five and experiences dysphoria leading to self-harm at age 11. Anna Friel portrays Vicky Duffy, Maxine's mother, who initially allows Maxine to wear female clothing only at home but later fully embraces her identity. Emmett J. Scanlan plays Stephen Duffy, Maxine's father, who left the household after slapping Maxine for acting feminine and is reluctant to accept her identity before eventually supporting her. Millie Gibson plays Lily Duffy, Maxine's sister, who watches out for her at school and encourages her to identify as female. Alison Steadman plays Barbara Pannell, Vicky's mother, who is initially critical but later supportive. Seán McGinley plays Peter Duffy, Stephen's father, who is initially concerned with Maxine's gender identity.
Broadcast
The programme first aired on ITV in the UK on Sunday evenings at 9 p.m., beginning on 14 October 2018 and concluding on 28 October. Hulu released the series in the US in January 2019. In Italy, it aired on Fox Life in December 2018 on Mondays at 9 p.m., after premiering at a film festival in Milan. Sweden's public broadcaster Sveriges Television showed it in January 2019. In France, it aired in February 2019 under the title De Max à Maxine, first on the paid channel DTT then on free channel 6ter. The same month, it was played at a cinema and appeared on EITB in the Basque Country in Spain, commemorating the one-year anniversary of transgender teenager Ekai Lersundi's suicide. In Germany, it aired on RTL Passion in January 2020 under the title Butterfly – Alle Meine Farben, on Tuesdays at 8:15 p.m.
Reception
The premiere of Butterfly drew 2.8 million overnight viewers, with the three-part series averaging 2.5 million. Following the broadcast, the charity Mermaids noted an increase in new members. The miniseries received widespread approval from both the transgender community and the general public. Ash Palmisciano, the first transgender actor on the British soap Emmerdale, called it a landmark story that was truthful, dark, heartbreaking, and beautiful. Other transgender commentators and activists commended the show for its accurate and positive representation of trans people while also highlighting the challenges of transitioning. Social media reactions were favorable, including from trans newsreader India Willoughby and Labour politician Dawn Butler. One woman told the Manchester Evening News that her own experience closely mirrored the characters’ story, saying it really hit home. However, some parents of transgender youth questioned whether the character Maxine was simply a gay boy who did not need to transition. The National Health Service’s Gender Identity Development Service criticized the depiction of Maxine’s suicide attempt, calling it unhelpful and noting that fewer than one percent of their patients attempt suicide. In response, Green cited a 2016 Stonewall survey where 45 percent of transgender children reported attempting suicide. ITV stated that Butterfly is one family’s fictional story. The Sunday Times reported that programme-makers initially visited the clinic but parted ways due to differences. Critical reception was very positive, with The Independent awarding four out of five stars. The writing was described as nuanced.
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