Jessica Gunning on Baby Reindeer: ‘I really feel for Martha’

It’s been just over a week since Baby Reindeer dropped on Netflix, but at this point you’ll either have watched it, been told to watch it, or at the very least heard someone talking about it. It’s rapidly become part of cultural conversation, creating debates across a variety of themes amongst friends and topping Netflix charts internationally – and rightfully so.

Adapted from the Olivier award-winning play of the same name by Richard Gadd, the seven-part series is based on the writer’s own personal experience of being stalked at the hands of Martha, a 40-something former lawyer who he meets while working behind the bar at a Camden pub. After offering her a free cup of tea, a series of complex and heartbreaking events unfold. 

Written with equal parts pathos and humour, it’s easy to see why it’s become such a phenomenon. Each episode manages to sink its claws into you, demanding that you keep watching to find out the fate of the cast, which is led by Gadd himself. His comedic yet chilling retelling of his story makes for avid viewing – and his bravery in being so open is in part of what makes the show so compelling. The real standout, though, is undoubtedly Jessica Gunning, who plays Martha. The actress embodies her with such sensitivity and boldness that there’s no doubt that people will be speaking about her performance for years to come. Across each episode, the ever-evolving portrayal of the flawed antagonist keeps audiences on their toes as she so effortlessly evokes a plethora of emotions in the viewer – anger, sympathy, fear – and all in the same scene.

As admiration and curiosity surrounding the show reaches its dizzying peak, we speak to Gunning about the show’s rapid success, the danger of online sleuths and how she so successfully brought Martha to life. 

How have things been for you over the past week since Baby Reindeer was released?

Jessica Gunning: It’s been absolutely crazy. When I read the script, I thought it was something pretty special and unique. I thought it was going to be like a slow burn. I never thought that [the reaction] would be like this. I’m just thrilled it’s had the response it has because it’s such a unique show and it’s captured so many people. I think so many people have been moved by it. 

Was there any apprehension about playing Martha, knowing about the real life story? 

Jessica Gunning: Yes, I think when you’re playing something that’s based on a true story, there’s a real sense of responsibility to do justice to all the people involved. It’s quite a unique thing because I was working with [Richard], the person whose story it’s based on. I just would focus most of the time on the script because it was so incredible. There was so much rich material there. I absolutely had a sense of responsibility for doing it justice and making sure that Martha came across in the most nuanced, complicated way she could. I think the mistake would be if you played her as a baddie or as a villain. I think you would lose so much of the nuance that Richard has written into the character. 

What was your point of reference for Martha? Did Richard Gadd give you more details about her characteristics to help you bring her to life?

Jessica Gunning: He genuinely didn’t. It was all from the page. As soon as I read it, I captured the essence of her. I think for him, that might have been quite strange as when we were filming, he’d be a bit quiet occasionally, and I’d check in with him and he’d say ‘I’m so sorry. It just feels like she’s here with me. I feel like I’ve spent the day with her’. So I think it’s just his writing and the fact that she’s such a character in herself. I just got her. I didn’t need to do any more research or he didn’t really need to tell me that much about the real person because it was all there on the page. I’m not doing an impersonation of anyone. I’m just doing my interpretation of who I think she is, and I think by chance, there are similarities. 

Did you do much research into stalking?

Jessica Gunning: I tried to read up on stalking quite a bit actually, and obviously watch some films as references like King of Comedy and Misery, which is obviously the most famous one. But with Baby Reindeer, it’s not like anything else really, so there’s only so much preparation you can do separate from the script. I looked into a little bit of this thing called limerence which I found really fascinating. It’s kind of a new concept, which is like obsessive love, which really is what I think Martha potentially had. It’s an interesting thing that I looked into to kind of help with those initial stages of infatuation. 

This was Richard Gadd’s real life story. Did that come with any pressure?

Jessica Gunning: He’s been so complimentary from the off, even when we were filming. I always felt really reassured by him and supported. He’s a pretty special guy. I don’t think I’ve ever worked with anyone quite like Richard doing the task that he had. Not only was he in every scene, he had his writers head on a lot of the time, he’s an exec producer on it, so he had so many balls to juggle. It was an intense time for him, but he’s done a lot of work on himself. Bear in mind, he already did Baby Reindeer as a stage show and also Monkey See, Monkey Do, which I actually saw and which was also incredible. That was what episode four is based on. So he’s done a stint of time in reliving those worlds and I think that was a good preparation for him. 

What are your actual thoughts on Martha as an individual?

Jessica Gunning: I always get quite emotional when I think about Martha as a character just because I really felt so much for her. We filmed everything in just under six months as well, so she was a really big part of my life. For me, Martha really is the role of a lifetime for me. I know I’m never ever going to get a chance to play somebody like this again. I’ve been very lucky to be working for 17 years, but I’ve never had a chance like this. I’m well aware that she’s a rare character. I really felt for her. I was really moved by how Richard wrote her as a character. I think she was multi-layered. I think that the key for me was that final voicemail in the pub. That’s the bit that always broke my heart and that’s how I got to the emotional core of her. I always used to go back and read that voicemail because I think that was the answer to the whole theme of the show really. She is endearing and funny and tragic and heartbreaking. I know she also was an angry character at parts. And it was hard during the scenes when she is racist or homophobic or transphobic, that was a very hard side of the character to play. I think Richard wrote her so honestly and captured so many sides of her. It was a real gift of a character to play. 

We live in an era of online sleuths and unfortunately the real-life Martha has seemingly been identified online. I wondered what your thoughts are on that? 

Jessica Gunning: I wasn’t aware at all. I think that’s a real shame if that’s so. I think it’s really sad if that is happening because they clearly haven’t watched the show in the right way and haven’t got the message of the show. That’s definitely not what our intention was in any way. Huge measures were put in place for nobody to be identified on purpose. Netflix and Richard really didn’t want that. So I think it is a shame. I imagine it’s inevitable because people are fascinated nowadays with true stories, but I would urge people to think of the individuals and not do that.

Were you ever conscious of the fact that the real Martha may be watching, and how she might feel about your performance and portrayal of her? 

Jessica Gunning: Yeah, I think I have always had that in the back of my mind. But I’m doing an interpretation of this character. I’m not impersonating the person. I did have a sense of responsibility, but from my part, I never, ever saw her as a villain. I always approached her character with, I hope, a real care for her. I saw all the sides to her. I was never trying to do a kind of stereotypical performance. So hopefully if it was watched [by her], it wouldn’t be taken away as an insult. It was hopefully a multifaceted portrayal of somebody going through a lot in their life. I think the response to that final scene hopefully shows that people don’t view her as all bad or as a villain. There’s no winner at the end. And I think that’s what's so beautiful about the writing is that you feel for both of them, and both of them are kind of lost. I think it’s a caring portrayal of that character and not meant to vilify or drum up any bad feeling about her. 

Were you ever mindful about any reaction from her with regards to your performance? 

Jessica Gunning: Netflix and Richard and Clerkenwell Films were always so thoughtful in terms of that. Netflix did the best they could to change any identifying features, so it is frustrating that people are speculating. But I wasn’t worried about anything like that. I think that it’s such an honest, nuanced, and well-written thing. It’s not one blanket message at all, so I was never worried about there being any backlash in terms of that.

Lastly, what have you learned from your experience of playing Martha? 

Jessica Gunning: I’m so honoured that they took a chance to cast me because I care so much about this project and about Richard. I think it’s probably one of the bravest things I’ve ever seen, so to be part of it is amazing. To have the response we’ve had is genuinely incredible and so I just feel proud. So many people have got in touch with Richard after episode four and said how they feel seen for the first time. I just think how great it is to be part of something that is making people feel noticed. I just think that’s incredible.