Why Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Character Is Called Fleabag

Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s show Fleabag is named after the main character. Fleabag is never given an official name, but there is a good reason for that.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge's main character in Fleabag is never given an official name. In the hit Amazon series Fleabag, a woman, known to the audience as "Fleabag," navigates the relationships in her life after losing her best friend, Boo. Fleabag tries to find comfort in humor and sex, but ultimately must learn to come to terms with herself. Phoebe Waller-Bridge's stellar performance and sharp wit make Fleabag one of the best comedy-dramas in recent years.

Fleabag may seem like a strange choice for a main character's name, but most characters in Fleabag don't have official names. In the script, Olivia Colman's character is named "The Godmother," and Andrew's Scott is named simply "The Priest." This makes Fleabag's name not dissimilar to the rest of the cast of Fleabag. However, the odd name perfectly fits the quirky character, and it's hard to imagine Phoebe Waller-Bridge's character having any other name.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Nickname Inspired Fleabag's Name

Phoebe Waller-Bridge's character name came from her own familial nickname, "Flea." Since Phoebe Waller-Bridge based Fleabag on some of her own personal experiences, it makes sense she would choose her own nickname for her main character. Even with the name's strange connotations, the name perfectly matches the messiness of the rest of the series.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge told Vanity Fair in 2017 that she struggled to find a name that fit her character. Waller-Bridge said she eventually realized "that word, 'fleabag,' that felt right, because there's a messy connotation to it." Additionally, Waller-Bridge admitted to liking "the idea of holding some of that mystery" in the name. Similarly, the plot of Fleabag withholds information from the audience, which adds to the mystery that Waller-Bridge wanted the character to have.

Fleabag's Horrible Name Is Secretly Perfect

Fleabag's nickname implies something grotty and unclean, hinting at the emotional messiness that runs under the surface. Fleabag is self-destructive and uses sex as a distraction, but the audience doesn't learn why until the end of the pilot. This destructive nature is perfectly represented in her name, but also still sounds light and humorous.

The Emmy award-winning series Fleabag is a huge win for female driven comedy-dramas. Fleabag is a strong but also complex character that is a far cry from the typical female representation in media. Even though, Fleabag only ran for two seasons and ended in 2019, thanks to streaming, new fans are getting hooked on Fleabag every day. Phoebe Waller-Bridge's perfectly flawed Fleabag presents a grounded but also hilarious tale of a young woman struggling through her early thirties that will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come.