In 2017, filmmaker Greta Gerwig drew accolades with the release of her award-winning semi-autobiographical directorial debut, Lady Bird, at its core a coming-of-age tale in which its protagonist, Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson, makes the difficult journey from high-school to university whilst navigating an often turbulent relationship with her mother. In January of 2018, having recently watched Lady Bird, British film journalist Hannah Woodhead was inspired to write a letter to her own mother.
On International Women’s Day 2018 at London's Union Chapel, it was read by Louise Brealey.