Who is Chelsea Manning on Louis Theroux Interviews on BBC2?

The former US soldier was handed a hefty jail sentence after leaking confidential and sensitive information

The second series of Louis Theroux Interviews... has seen the veteran broadcaster tackle more tricky topics with a new raft of well-known faces. The journalist's one-on-one interviews are conducted in his traditional immersive filming style and can leave you feeling more than a little awkward as a viewer.

In each episode of the series, Theroux has sat down with a different guest, revealing a unique and intimate portrait of some of the world’s most well-known personalities, from boxer Anthony Joshua to national treasure Dame Joan Collins.

Tuesday night's subject was a former US Army soldier convicted of espionage after disclosing sensitive documents to WikiLeaks. Read on to find out all about Chelsea Manning.

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Who is Chelsea Manning?

Chelsea Manning is an activist and whistleblower, as well as a former US Army soldier. The 35-year-old was convicted by court-martial in July 2013 of violations of the Espionage Act after disclosing to WikiLeaks classified, or unclassified but sensitive, military and diplomatic documents.

Despite being born in Oklahoma, Manning's family moved to Wales in 2001, and she attended secondary school in Haverfordwest. They later returned to the US.

What was her crime?

Manning worked for the US military as a data analyst during the US-led coalition war in Afghanistan. While in her role, she leaked classified US government documents to the WikiLeaks website.

In the documents, it was reportedly revealed to the public that the US army, the CIA and Iraqi and Afghan forces committed human rights violations. She has always claimed that she released information in the public interest, and the crimes she exposed have never been investigated, reports Amnesty International.

What was her sentence?

In 2013, Manning was sentenced to 35 years in military prison. She spent a total of nearly seven years in prison from her initial arrest in Iraq in 2010, before having her sentence commuted by President Barack Obama in 2017.

Her treatment in prison was heavily criticised as degrading, cruel and inhumane, and it highlighted the lack of protections in place for whistleblowers.

What is WikiLeaks?

WikiLeaks is a not-for-profit publisher which was founded in 2006 by Australian national Julian Assange. WikiLeaks has released document caches and media that they say expose serious violations of human rights and civil liberties by various governments.

What happened after the information was leaked?

Manning was convicted of handing over documents to WikiLeaks during 2009 and 2010 – the biggest information leak in US military history. She was found guilty of numerous offences, including theft and espionage.

What has she done since her release from prison?

Since her release, Manning has continued to advocate for government transparency, human rights and transgender rights. In 2022, Manning released her memoir, README.txt, in which she talks about her early life, gender transition, imprisonment and life after freedom.

Louis Theroux Interviews... Chelsea Manning is on tonight at 9pm on BBC Two