Will the real "Miriam Maisel" please stand up?

The Story Behind Amazon's 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel'

Is The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel based on a true story? While showcasing historical figures like Lenny Bruce, and inspired by and drawing from real-life events, the series is entirely fictional. Some characters may share traits of real-life figures, but The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is not based on a true story.

'Is The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel based on a true story?' is a question fans are dying to find out! Enraptured by the Emmy-Award winning Amazon Prime series, audiences are curious to know whether their favorite characters really existed in the 1950s.

While many of the characters are inspired by real-life figures, creator Amy Sherman-Palladino revealed in a Vanity Fair interview that the show is completely fictional!

Is The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Based on a True Story?

Is The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel based on a true story is the question we are here to answer in detail for you. Both creator Amy Sherman-Palladino and lead actress Rachel Brosnahan have stated to Vanity Fair in separate interviews, that while they used the late actress and comedian Joan Rivers as inspiration for the character of "Miriam Maisel", the two have distinct differences.

First of all, unlike Joan, "Miriam" does not struggle to fit into society's expectations. She is more than happy to be a mother and housewife until her husband abandons her. "Miriam's" comedy, therefore, comes from a different place than Joan's and has the natural confidence that Joan struggled with for much of her career.

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The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Cast

Lenny Bruce and "Susie Myerson"

Amy Sherman-Palladino also shared that a lot of her inspiration for the series came from her late father, comedian Don Sherman. Her mother also happened to be friends with the late comedian Lenny Bruce's mother. The influence of these male comedy figures in her life inspired Palladino to work Lenny Bruce, played by actor Luke Kirby, into the series.

"Susie Myerson" is another character that has taken inspiration from a real-life figure, 1960s talent agent Sue Mengers. Like "Susie", Sue Mengers was a ballsy woman for her day, paving the way for women in a mostly male-dominated profession. So while the series may not be based on a true story, many aspects of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel were inspired by real-life figures!