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“Baby Reindeer” emerged as a defining television event in recent years, catapulting actress Jessica Gunning into the spotlight.
Gunning portrayed Martha, the obsessive and troubled woman whose dramatic unraveling captivated audiences.
For Gunning, the role was a “role of a lifetime,” and she describes life since the show’s release as “surreal” yet “dreamlike.”
“I got goose bumps when I first read the script,” the British actress told the BBC, noting that she underwent five auditions for the part.
She initially anticipated that the television series would be an indie success, not the global phenomenon it became on Netflix.
The potential downside of starring in such a prominent show includes being recognized in public, with some confusing Gunning with 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 that’s surreal, occasionally being screamed at,” she says.
“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 emotionally taxing nature.
The show is presented as being based on real-life events experienced by its creator, Richard Gadd, who also plays the lead character.
However, the woman who allegedly inspired the character of Martha disputes this, claiming that Netflix told “brutal lies” about her to more than 50 million viewers worldwide.
In June 2024, she stated that she was suing Netflix for defamation, negligence, and privacy violations.
While the show is billed as “a true story,” a judge concluded in September 2024 that certain key events in the series, such as the conviction for stalking, did not occur in real life.
Netflix’s attempt to have the legal case dismissed was unsuccessful, 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, the actress notes.
“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 attend but was unable to secure tickets, so she purchased the play text instead.
“That was a little bit Martha of me,” she laughs.
Her persistence paid off, as Gunning garnered significant recognition during award season, securing an Emmy, a Bafta, a Golden Globe, an RTS award, and a Screen Actors Guild award.
“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 honor.”
“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 working in the industry for nearly two decades, but “Baby Reindeer” has proven to be a life-altering 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 acutely aware of the role’s significance, 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”.
It 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 is also navigating his way through grief.
This represents a stark contrast to “Baby Reindeer,” but Gunning describes the script as “beautiful” and expressed her desire to participate “in 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 lies ahead for Gunning?
She is starring alongside Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield in a film adaptation of Enid Blyton’s beloved children’s book, “The Magic Faraway Tree,” and is also filming a comedy with Angelina Jolie.
The actress, who hails from the West Yorkshire market town where the long-running 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.
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