Is To Leslie Based On A True Story? Real-Life Inspiration Explained

To Leslie centers around Leslie Rowland, played by Andrea Riseborough, and her journey to recovery, but is the movie based on real events?

To Leslie stars Andrea Riseborough as Leslie Rowland, an alcoholic determined to turn her life around, and after watching the film, viewers wondered if Leslie's story was based on a real one. The movie premiered at South by Southwest in March 2022 before making its way to theaters in October of the same year. Aside from Riseborough, To Leslie stars Allison Janney, Marc Maron, Andre Royo, Owen Teague, and Stephen Root. Michael Morris made his directorial debut with the film, and Ryan Binaco wrote it.

Netflix added the movie to its streaming library in June 2023, and, as of the writing of this article, it has already made its way to the Top 10 Movies in the United States list. It also received rave reviews from critics, and Riseborough even garnered a (controversial) Oscar nomination for To Leslie. But as the credits rolled, one couldn't help but wonder if To Leslie was based on a true story or not.

To Leslie Is Loosely Based On A True Story

At the beginning of To Leslie, Leslie wins $190,000 by playing the lottery, but she quickly spends it all on alcohol and drugs. The film then jumps ahead six years to Leslie moving from motel to motel before moving in with her 19-year-old son, James, but he makes her promise to quit drinking. Sadly, the movie doesn't end there. However, after relapsing multiple times, Leslie eventually gets a job at a motel and tries to get her life together. Since To Leslie's story is so emotional and raw, it's easy to understand why many believe it's based on real events. However, it's only loosely inspired by a true story.

To Leslie's writer, Ryan Binaco, was inspired by his late mother to compose the film. However, it's important to note that Leslie is not a true depiction of Binaco's mother. She's a dramatized version made for the big screen in To Leslie​​​​​​.

How To Leslie's Movie Story Differs From Real Life

Since Binaco has not publicly commented on the inspiration for To Leslie's script, it's unknown if the entire story in the film is fictional or if some parts were based on true events. However, interviewers have asked the movie's star, Riseborough, about the inspiration behind the movie. She told Deadline:

"It’s written from the perspective of a child who watched their mother experience this very same thing. It’s as if Ryan has given his mother, who was from a very different place and background, a chance at redemption."

It's likely that the film's events didn't actually happen in real life. However, the relationship between Leslie and James and the feelings that James held toward his mother are very much based on reality since Binaco experienced a similar story to James'. At the end of the day, the characters in To Leslie are fictional, as are the plot points.