Jessica Gunning gained widespread acclaim for her role as stalker Martha Scott in Baby Reindeer, based on writer, creator and star Richard Gadd’s real-life experience and adapted from his autobiographical one-man show.
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Gadd plays a version of himself as struggling comedian Donny Dunn, who meets Martha at the London pub he works in. She grows very attached to him and begins to stalk him online and in person.
Gunning has won an Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG Award and Royal Television Society Programme Award, plus many more, for the role. Baby Reindeer is leading this year’s BAFTA TV awards with eight nominations, including for Gunning in the Supporting Actress category.
The 38-year-old from Holmfirth, West Yorkshire has appeared in David Mitchell and Robert Webb’s Back, the film Pride, and Stephen Merchant’s The Outlaws.
What has that been like after Baby Reindeer? “It was lovely, and it's such a beloved story,” Gunning tells Radio Times exclusively.
Jessica Gunning as Martha in Baby Reindeer. Netflix
“I really hope people will love it. It's one of those things that grandparents who read the books when they were little will enjoy, and there will be people discovering it for the first time as well. I've got a feeling it might be a pretty magical tale. It was amazing to film.”
It’s adapted by BAFTA winner Simon Farnaby (Wonka, Paddington 2, Ghosts), and directed by Ben Gregor (Britannia, Cuckoo), so Gunning assures us, "Paddington fans and Ghosts fans will love it! Simon's script was so heartwarming and funny. Even in the read-through, there wasn't a dry eye in the house at the end".
The story follows Polly (Claire Foy) and Tim (Andrew Garfield) and their three children, who relocate to the remote English countryside. There, the children discover a magical tree and its residents. At the top of the tree, they are transported to different lands, where they embark on fantastical adventures.
The characters include Dame Washalot (Gunning), Moonface (Nonso Anozie, Ted Lasso), woodland fairy Silky (Nicola Coughlan, Bridgerton), Saucepan Man (Dustin Demri-Burns, Slow Horses), Mr Oom Boom Boom (Mark Heap, Friday Night Dinner) and Mr Watzisname (Oliver Chris, Trying).
Lenny Henry, Michael Palin and Simon Russell Beale will portray mystical wise men from the Land of Know-Alls. The film is set to be released this year.
The Magic Faraway Tree will be released later this year.
Laura Rutkowski is the Junior Commissioning Editor at Radio Times magazine, where she looks after a column called "What it's like to…", which spotlights behind-the-scenes roles within the TV and film industry – from stunt coordinators to costume designers. She loves finding out how productions are made and enjoys covering a wide variety of genres. Laura is half-American and half-British and joined Radio Times in 2022. She has a degree in Psychology and a Master's in Magazine Journalism.
