Brie Larson stars in the new Apple TV+ series Lessons in Chemistry, and it’s already getting a ton of buzz. As fans may already know, the show follows Elizabeth Zott, who wants to be a scientist in the 1950s but ends up getting a job on a cooking show instead because society doesn’t like the idea of female scientists (ugh).
Elizabeth ends up becoming a big name in the cooking world but, of course, there’s plenty of drama in the mix, too. Considering the TV show's historical subject matter, it’s only natural to wonder if Lessons in Chemistry is based on a real-life events. Here’s everything to know:
Is Lessons in Chemistry based on a true story?
Nope, but the Apple TV+ series is based on a historical fiction book of the same name by Bonnie Garmus. The book was released in April 2022 and became a New York Times bestseller. Because Lessons in Chemistry is historical fiction, that means that some parts of the story are based in history (like women being shunned for wanting to be successful scientists), while other elements are purely made up to propel the plot forward.
Is Elizabeth Zott based on a real person?
Kind of. Garmus told the Los Angeles Times that her book was inspired by her work as a creative director at an advertising agency. She specifically talked about how frustrated she felt after a male co-worker took credit for one of her ideas (which is something that happens to Elizabeth in both the book and TV series).
Garmus also said that she loves rowing and made it one of Elizabeth’s hobbies as a result.
But as for the overall character of Elizabeth, Garmus told CBS that she isn’t based on any one person. Instead, she created her protagonist in honor of her mother and her mother’s generation. (Oh, and by the way, Garmus’ book was rejected 98 times before she found a publisher.)
“But the thing with writing, I think, is so important for people to realize is that the only one who says it's over is you,” she told CBS. “It's never over. Just because 98 people reject you, it doesn't mean that they were right.”
