Economic inequality, single motherhood, and violence against women are some of the heavy issues explored in Maid, a new series coming to Netflix this fall that boasts a stellar cast and looks profoundly powerful.

Inspired by the New York Times best-selling memoir, Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive by Stephanie Land, Maid follows the story of Alex, a single mother who turns to housecleaning to — barely — make ends meet as she escapes an abusive relationship and overcomes homelessness to create a better life for her daughter, Maddy. “I wrote a book so people who struggle to get by could see themselves represented in an authentic way, and they could feel less alone. Maid, the series on Netflix that was inspired by my book, continues that legacy in ways that absolutely blow my mind,” says Author and Executive Producer Stephanie Land. 

“When writers look to adapt material for the screen, we look for a hero. Someone who fights like hell, against all odds, to reach a goal. It’s usually a title reserved for superheroes. But I found a hero in Stephanie Land’s memoir, Maid. A riveting account of a single mother who leaves an abusive relationship and finds herself broke and homeless, Maid is a story about back-breaking hard work and the power of a mother’s love,” says Showrunner, Executive Producer, and Writer Molly Smith Metzler, who spent time at Domestic Violence Shelters and Emergency Shelters, meeting with survivors, before shooting the series. “Our heroine in the series, Alex Russell (played by the incredible Margaret Qualley) is determined to give her daughter a better life while free-falling through a broken welfare system and cleaning houses for minimum wage. Told entirely through Alex’s unfiltered and often funny POV, you’re with this inspiring underdog for every moment.”

Land’s novel was a favourite of President Barack Obama, who included it on his 2019 summer reading list and described it as “A single mother’s personal, unflinching look at America’s class divide, a description of the tightrope many families walk just to get by, and a reminder of the dignity of all work.” Margot Robbie is also a fan and serves as an Executive Producer through her production company, LuckyChap, which also produced 2021 Academy Award-winning film Promising Young Woman. 

It’s a show we cannot wait to see. First look photos below; coming to Netflix October 1st. More info at www.netflix.com/maid.