What It Feels Like for a Girl is a British television series based on Paris Lees' coming-of-age memoir of the same title, adapted by Lees herself for BBC Three. The series premiered on 3 June 2025.
Production.
In June 2023, it was announced BBC Three had commissioned an 8-episode adaptation of Paris Lees' coming-of-age memoir "What It Feels Like for a Girl", produced by Hera Pictures and penned by Lees herself. Chris Sweeney was originally attached as lead director, but the position later went to Brian Welsh. Lees was joined in the writing room by Georgia Christou, Paul Williams, Sarah Simmonds and Mika Onyx Johnson, while Ng Choon Ping and Marie Kristiansen supported Welsh as directors.
The cast was revealed in March 2025, with Ellis Howard set to lead the series. Lees said "The biggest challenge was always the lead role – we're following someone who’s going from, in the eyes of the outside world, a schoolboy, right up to a trans woman starting university, and all that's in between. The moment I saw Ellis, I recognised something in him - a cheekiness, a delicateness, a complexity - and knew he was the one". Also announced were Laura Haddock, Hannah Walters and Michael Socha as well as Laquarn Lewis, Hannah Jones, Adam Ali, Alex Thomas-Smith, Calam Lynch, Jake Dunn and Dickie Beau. Further cast members included Emma Shipp, Sekou Diaby, Laura Checkley, Oliver Huntingdon, Lorn Macdonald and Rhys Connah. Fay Ripley and Selina Mosinski would make guest appearances.
Principal photography took place in Nottingham and South Wales.
Reception.
In June 2025 Digital Spy said, "It's no exaggeration to suggest that "What It Feels Like for a Girl" could do for trans representation what "It's a Sin" did a few years back for gay storytelling and awareness around the AIDS crisis.