“`html
“Baby Reindeer” emerged as a significant television event in recent years, propelling actress Jessica Gunning into the spotlight.
Gunning portrayed Martha, an obsessive and deeply troubled character whose dramatic unraveling captivated audiences.
Gunning describes the role as “the role of a lifetime,” noting that life since the show’s release has been both “surreal” and a “dream.”
“I got goose bumps when I first read the script,” the British actress told the BBC, adding that she underwent five auditions for the part.
She initially anticipated the series would be an indie success, not the widespread phenomenon it became on Netflix.
A potential consequence of starring in such a prominent show is being recognized and occasionally mistaken for her character.
“I’d just parked near where I live, and a woman screamed in my face! But in her defense, she had just finished the series, walked out of her home, and there I was.”
“So, being screamed at occasionally is surreal,” she said.
“But everyone has been so lovely. There’s also an incredible statistic about the difference the show has made to charities, especially those for male survivors of sexual assault.”
“I think it shows people want complicated stories. I have had 14-year-olds come and talk to me about it, as well as 90-year-olds.”
Viewers of “Baby Reindeer” may attest to its challenging and upsetting content.
The series is presented as based on the real-life experiences of creator Richard Gadd, who also stars as the lead character.
However, the woman alleged to have inspired the character of Martha disputes this, claiming Netflix told “brutal lies” about her to over 50 million viewers globally.
In June 2024, she announced she was suing Netflix for defamation, negligence, and privacy violations.
While billed as “a true story,” a judge ruled in September 2024 that certain key events in the series, such as a stalking conviction, did not occur in reality.
Netflix’s attempt failed to have the legal case dismissed, but the company stated, “We intend to defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.”
Filming such an intense drama has forged a “unique bond” between Gadd and Gunning, according to the actress.
“We always checked in with each other, and the producers and director made sure everything felt safe and considered.”
“Baby Reindeer” originated as a stage show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Gunning attempted to see it but, unable to secure tickets, purchased the play’s text instead.
“That was a little bit Martha of me,” she laughs.
Her persistence paid off, with Gunning receiving an Emmy, a Bafta, a Golden Globe, an RTS award, and a Screen Actors Guild award during awards season.
“It’s all been a bit pinch me, for all of the cast and crew really, we were out in LA, which is just crazy anyway to be in Hollywood. All the clichés are true, even to be nominated is an honour.”
“Sometimes I look at the shelf that has my awards on and I think ‘Oh my gosh’, it feels like a dream really.”
Gunning has been in the industry for nearly two decades, but “Baby Reindeer” has been a transformative experience.
“I feel like on the one hand my life has completely changed, but I also feel exactly the same in a good way.”
“I feel like if something like Baby Reindeer happened straight after coming out of drama school, maybe I’d feel like a bit of a deer in the headlights, pardon the pun.”
“Now I feel a lot more grounded and I’ve got a big group of family and friends. But it is kind of strange, the number of viewers that Netflix bring in, you can’t really compute. If you think about it too much it can feel a little bit scary.”
She is keenly aware of the significance of the role, stating, “I waited 17 years for a part like Martha to come along, so hopefully it won’t be another 17 years.”
Gunning will next appear on-screen on Christmas Eve in the BBC One and Children In Need animation “Pudsey and the Thread of Hope.”
The animation is based on an original story by McFly star and composer for the “Paddington” musical, Tom Fletcher, who also wrote the music for the cartoon.
Gunning plays a woman grieving for her husband, while her son navigates his own grief.
It marks a stark contrast to “Baby Reindeer,” but Gunning found the script “beautiful” and wanted to contribute to “the special charity.”
“Children can deal with big issues like this, and hopefully children will watch and feel seen if they’ve experienced this, or are going through something similar.”
“All my life I’ve grown up with Children In Need. I went to school dressed up as an Emu and wore it all day.”
So, what’s next for Gunning?
She is set to star alongside Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield in a film adaptation of Enid Blyton’s beloved children’s book, “The Magic Faraway Tree,” and is filming a comedy with Angelina Jolie.
The actress, who hails from the West Yorkshire market town where the enduring BBC sitcom “Last of the Summer Wine” was filmed, jokes: “It’s Holmfirth to Hollywood.”
“Pudsey and the Thread of Hope” airs on 24 December at 10:20 GMT on BBC One and iPlayer, and on 27 December at 17:00 GMT on CBeebies and CBBC.
“`