TV FROM AROUND THE WORLD: "My Mad Fat Diary" (U.K.)

“My Mad Fat Diary” is a British coming-of-age drama set in the '90s, and it will make you laugh just as much as it breaks your heart. The E4 hit series follows Rae Earl (Sharon Rooney), a 16-year-old girl who just got out of a psychiatric hospital, where she spent the last 4 months receiving treatment for mental illness. 

Rae’s just like any other teenage girl -- worried about being cool, having fun with friends, and getting that cute boy to kiss her. She also has low self-esteem about her body image and is working on improving her mental health, and she writes about all of this in her diary.

The show also features Emmy-nominated "Killing Eve" actress Jodie Comer in an early role, as Chloe, Rae’s best friend. Rae thinks Chloe’s perfect and often compares herself to her, especially when it comes to their relationships with boys. Because of this, Rae doesn’t tell her about her time in the hospital, instead saying she was in France. 

Slowly, Rae starts opening up more to the people around her, including Claire, her mom, and the boy she likes, Finn. She begins to understand that other people may be dealing with the same issues she is, and no one is perfect. 

“My Mad Fat Diary” is cute and hilarious, but what makes it a standout series is its honest portrayal of Rae’s personal struggles with mental illness and self-esteem. The show is based on the book My Fat, Mad Teenage Diary by the real Rae Earl, which is a collection of her own diaries from the late-1980s. 

Watch if you like shows like “Derry Girls”, “Fleabag”, or “The End of the F***ing World”! All 3 seasons of “My Mad Fat Diary” are currently streaming on Hulu!