Frankie Shaw Reveals Which ‘SMILF’ Stories Were Inspired By Her Own Experiences

Showtime’s “SMILF” is loosely based on Frankie Shaw’s life. But which parts of the comedy series are inspired by the actress’ real-life experiences and which are just completely made up?

In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, Shaw, who created and stars in the show, revealed some of the things on the series that were directly taken from her own life.

“I really was a tutor. I wrote college-application essays for kids in Los Angeles.; that’s real,” said Shaw, who plays part-time tutor Bridgette Bird on the series. “[But] some of the other stuff — like, I never slept with a 20-year-old kid; that’s pure story.”

In Season 1, episode 3, Bridgette, who was looking for some fast cash to pay her rent, responded to a Craigslist ad from a man looking for company. Bridgette met up with the man at a grocery store and surprisingly felt a connection with him. But things suddenly took a left turn when the man pushed his hand against Bridgette’s crotch without her consent. Without thinking twice, Bridgette got up from her seat and punched the man in the face.

While Shaw didn’t have the same encounter at a grocery store, the 31-year-old actress told the Los Angeles Times that she had a similar experience while on a commute. “I was grabbed by the … on a subway in New York City,” Shaw said. “[But] instead of punching the guy, I froze and jumped off at the next stop.”

“I think a lot of times the normal response to assault and trauma is either to freeze or dissociate, or tell yourself it’s not happening,” Shaw told The Hollywood Reporter. “So [Bridgette’s response to the assault] is what you would think one would do, and wish fulfillment being that you’re standing up to yourself in a very specific, intelligible way, and getting a little bit of revenge. So yes, I would say that it was just, in a way, what everyone wants to do.”

In an interview with Variety, Shaw said that she also previously responded to a Craigslist ad for extra money. “This one came from an experience I had in my life, when I had just graduated Barnard [College] and was extremely struggling, financially and in general,” the actress shared.

Like Bridgette in episode 3, Shaw responded to one ad that said: “Go to dinner for money.” “Then I go to my waitressing job, and I tell a friend of mine. She goes, ‘You cannot go. You will not return from that yourself. You cannot recover,’” the “Good Girls Revolt” alum recalled. “So I canceled. I texted this guy, I’m just kidding, I’m not gonna go.”

But when the guy told her that he would give her $300 just to see her face, Shaw had a change of heart. “It was at Christmastime. I didn’t tell anyone. It was a secret. And I went,” the actress said. “He stuck his hand out the window and gives me cash and says, ‘You’re prettier than you know.’ I kept walking. I took the money and I kept walking. I felt so strange. I kind of blocked it out. Didn’t tell anyone. Well, now I can buy some Christmas presents. It was so strange.”

“SMILF” airs its Season 1 finale on Sunday, Dec. 31 at 10 p.m. EST on Showtime.