Russell Brand: Open Secret, a new documentary film streaming now on Netflix, follows Russell Brand’s path from comedian and film star to political activist and YouTuber known for spouting conspiracy theories — and ultimately to his headline-dominating criminal trial.
Directed by Olivia Isaacs, the documentary comes from 72 Films, the Fremantle company that produced Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story. Russell Brand: Open Secret features insiders’ voices and archival footage, offering insight into Brand’s life and the investigation conducted by The Times and The Sunday Times’ chief news correspondent, Rosamund Urwin, and investigations correspondent Charlotte Wace.
The film looks at Brand’s career and the investigation into allegations against him using interviews from insiders and archival footage. Isaacs says the team set out to look beyond the accusations alone: “We wanted to look at it more widely, broadly, to try and get an understanding of Russell Brand, who he is, the worlds that he occupied and lived in. And to understand why the allegations didn’t come to light sooner and just what it took to get to the point, decades after the rumors start[ed].”
On Nov. 5, a London court found Brand guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was found not guilty of two other counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault. He was sentenced on Nov. 9 to 10 1/2 years in prison. Isaacs says the verdict “is a significant moment but doesn’t change what the film is: a deeper look at how this was possible and how it stayed hidden for so long.”
“The trial of Russell Brand drew a huge amount of attention to the work of Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace, and the incredible bravery of the victims in speaking out,” she continues. “I’m glad that this film demonstrates the complexity of a story like this and the huge impact it has on those trying to bring stories of abuse to light.”
Despite its timely release, the film has been in the works for three years. “We began filming before the police had brought any charges, and from the start we were acutely aware that we couldn’t transmit anything before the trial concluded or do anything that might prejudice it,” Isaacs says. “That’s simply part of being responsible filmmakers, and it shaped how we worked throughout.” She adds that the survivors the team filmed with were not part of the trial, and that “the timing of the release makes no difference to the content itself. The film was always going to be made in a journalistic way, with a mix of voices, including people from his inner circle and not just those with allegations or negative experiences.”
Isaacs is quick to credit earlier reporting: “I really need to acknowledge the work that was done and the survivors who came forward in 2023, and The Sunday Times, The Times, the Channel 4 Dispatches documentary. Without their work, I wouldn’t be sat here.”
But the doc goes further. “We quickly realized there’s much more out there, unfortunately. And there’s a pattern of behavior that we were uncovering,” she says, pointing out coercive control and emotional abuse in the testimony. The film also looks at the culture around Brand, including “the archive of the time, how shocking it is, and seeing audiences laughing along.”
The documentary premiered on Netflix on Nov. 13 and is now streaming.
Take a look at the preview for Russell Brand: Open Secret at the top of the page.
The documentary features interviews with and testimony from:
“At the heart of it all was informed consent, being completely honest [and] transparent with people, and not putting any pressure on anyone,” Isaacs says. The team spoke to “hundreds of people, not all of them had allegations,” and it took several months to bring most core contributors on board. “We had to be patient and work with people. We parked the entertainment and delivery of the film. These are people’s experiences.”
Isaacs believes the most important takeaways come directly from the survivors themselves, whose testimonies we hear in the film. “The message is that you’re not alone, and that it’s never too late to speak up,” the director says. “You don’t have to carry this in silence, and being believed matters. If survivors watching take any one thing from the film, I hope it’s that.”
Russell Brand: Open Secret is executive produced by Clare Cameron, David Glover, and Mark Raphael, and produced by Kate Yandle, Laura Spence, and Felicity Cross.
Russell Brand: Open Secret is available to stream on Netflix now.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, please visit www.wannatalkaboutit.com to find more information and crisis resources.
