David Beckham: The Documentary “Beckham” Helped Me Forgive Myself

According to Cinemadrame, the documentary Beckham, which became highly popular on Netflix last year, has transformed the life of the retired football star. Last Wednesday, in an interview with Hollywood Reporter, David Beckham stated that Beckham helped him forgive himself.

He said, “I’m not saying making this documentary made me forget because I still feel the sadness of those moments. But it allowed me to forgive myself and let go of some of that guilt. After the series aired, my mom pulled me aside and gave me reassurance: ‘You don’t need to feel bad anymore.’ Those words still move me to this day.”

The four-episode documentary covers Beckham’s battle with depression, his move to Real Madrid, and his marriage to Victoria Beckham, a member of the Spice Girls.

Beckham had previously mentioned that he grew up in an era when people didn’t speak about mental health issues: “I have to admit I wasn’t fully prepared for the depth of commitment and emotional energy required for this process. At times, it was challenging. I spent over 50 hours with Fisher [Steven], and every time I saw that I had a meeting with him in my calendar, I’d try to find a way out of it! After each interview, I needed to spend some time alone to let the pressure off. Reflecting on the ups and downs of my life and career—at times—was mentally and emotionally draining.”

The documentary has earned Beckham five Emmy nominations, including for Best Documentary Series. On August 21, Netflix announced a new documentary focused on the life of Victoria Beckham. It was previously reported that the former Manchester United player earned $20 million from this documentary.