Joy has just arrived on Netflix and the inspirational film is told through the eyes of nurse Jean Purdy (played by Thomasin McKenzie). She was hired by Robert Edwards (James Norton), a visionary scientist, who was embarking on a mission to help infertile mothers.
The pair then turned to surgeon Patrick Steptoe (Bill Nighy) for support as they continued their mission to discover IVF. Finally, after facing scepticism and criticism from others in the field, Louise Joy Brown was the first baby to be born through IVF in 1978.
Her birth was labelled as one of “the most remarkable medical breakthroughs of the 20th Century”. She is the daughter of Lesley and John Brown, who had been trying to conceive naturally for nine years.
But, as Lesley faced complications of blocked fallopian tubes, their chances were slimming. After turning to Jean, Robert and Patrick for help, Louise was born via caesarean section at Oldham General Hospital in Lancashire.
Her younger sister, Natalie Brown, was also conceived through IVF four years later. In May 1999, Natalie was the first human born after conception by IVF to give birth herself, without IVF.
Louise Joy Brown at the premiere of the film ‘Joy’ (Image: Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Louise, now 46, married nightclub doorman Wesley Mullinder in 2004 and Robert Edwards attended their wedding.
They now have two children and their first son, Cameron, who was conceived naturally, was born in December 2006.
At the time she told the Mail on Sunday: “We were lucky in that Wesley and I were able to conceive naturally.
“We’d only been trying for about six months so it was obviously much easier for us than for mum and dad.
“I don’t know if the fact that they tried so hard to have a baby had any effect on me but I have always wanted children.”
In October this year, she attended the red carpet event for ‘s Joy, saying it was an “absolute thrill”.
Don’t miss… [INTERVIEW]
Gynaecologist Patrick Steptoe, embryologist Jean Purdy and physiologist Robert Edwards at the birth (Image: PA)
“Standing on the red carpet with Thomasin McKenzie, James Norton, Bill Nighy and the rest of the cast and filmmakers of the film was surreal and brought home how my mum and dad are a founding part of this world-changing invention developed by these incredible pioneers,” she said.
“It was also fantastic to meet up with so many others who were part of the IVF story – including John Webster, who helped Patrick Steptoe retrieve the single egg from my mum that became me and was there at my birth.”
Louise is on and she is “proud” to be the world’s first IVF baby. She shared the trailer for the film about her birth story, saying: “Am really excited about this, can’t wait.”
Earlier this year she gave a speech at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre, where a play called A Child of Science had been shown. The play was about the scientific work that led to her birth.
She said it was a “privilege” to be on stage sharing her mum and dad’s story, and was there to sign copies of her book, Louise Brown: 40 Years of IVF.
Back in 2015 she wrote her first book, Louise Brown: My Life as the World’s First Test-Tube Baby.
Joy is available to watch on