Is Milla Blake in Netflix's Apple Cider Vinegar a real person? The truth behind her character

Apple Cider Vinegar centers around Belle Gibson, but viewers may wonder if Milla Blake, a character played by Alycia Debnam-Carey, is based on a real person.

The Netflix series, inspired by Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano’s true crime book The Woman Who Fooled the World, reimagines the rise of Gibson, a wellness influencer who lied about having cancer. The show is set in the early 2010s and highlights the role Instagram played in spreading misinformation.

The show opens each episode by stating that while the narrative is inspired by truth, "some names have been changed and some characters invented," including Milla Blake, who doesn’t exist in real life. Milla Blake is a wellness influencer running a blog called greenstonehealing.com.

In the series, she becomes an inspiration to Belle, who copies her speeches. Milla believes she cured her cancer with holistic treatments and advocates for others to follow her approach.

Though Milla is not based on any actual person from Belle’s life, she represents the many wellness influencers who promote hope through alternative medicine. The series suggests that Milla’s influence motivated Belle to create her own narrative of cancer survival through holistic methods.

Despite her success, Milla’s journey is tragic. Diagnosed with pleomorphic sarcoma undifferentiated in 2009, Milla rejects conventional treatments in favor of alternative remedies, including coffee enemas and juicing. She becomes an influencer and even publishes a book, but her cancer worsens.

Milla’s story becomes more heartbreaking when her mother dies after attempting to follow Milla’s advice. Despite claiming to be cured, Milla’s illness eventually metastasizes, and she dies from her own decisions.

The show illustrates Milla as a victim of misinformation and fear, reflecting the harmful effects of such beliefs. Her story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of turning to unverified medical treatments when facing terminal illness. 

Alycia Debnam-Carey’s portrayal of Milla Blake highlights the internal and external struggles of someone caught between hope and harsh reality.