Baby Reindeer’s Jessica Gunning looks worlds away from stalker Martha in forgotten sitcom role
BABY Reindeer’s breakout star Jessica Gunning looks worlds away from stalker Martha Scott in a forgotten comedy role.
Back in 2018, Yorkshire actress Jessica played security guard Donna Calabrese in hit Sky sitcom, Trollied.
And the role of big-hearted, protective Donna couldn’t be further from her scene stealing turn as creepy obsessive Martha in the Netflix smash.
Jessica starred in Trolley for seven episodes in the comedy’s seventh series, where she shared the screen with co-stars Jason Watkins and Chanel Cresswell.
Donna was the new security guard on the block after former guard Ian resigned out of fears for his safety.
Desperate to do her job well and keep fictional supermarket Valco safe, Donna was dedicated to the safety of shoppers and stopping shoplifters in their tracks.
She also took it upon herself to find the culprit who started a blaze in at Valco later in the series.
The seventh series of Trolled was the show’s last, so Jessica did not get to resume her character for another run.
Away from Trollied, however, she boasts an impressive array of screen credits.
She has starred in BBC comedy The Outlaws, two episodes of detective drama Strike, ITV’s Prime Suspect 1973 and heartwarming LGBTQ film Pride.
But it’s her role in Baby Reindeer that has made her a household name.
The Netflix drama has been number one across the world since it debuted two weeks ago.
It is written by and stars Richard Gadd, who based it on his real life experience with a stalker.
He plays barman Donny, who finds himself targeted by obsessive loner, Martha.
Martha pretends to be a lawyer but actually lives in a dingy flat where she sends countless emails and texts harassing the man she has become infatuated with.
The success of the series has prompted fans to try and find the identity of the ‘real Martha’, despite both Gadd and Gunning urging them not to online.
Fiona Harvey, a real life woman accused of being the inspiration for the character, spoke to The Scottish Sun last week to blast the hit streaming show.
The Aberdeen University law graduate plans to sue the global streaming giant over how she is allegedly portrayed on screen by actress Jessica.
Ms Harvey said she will represent herself in any legal action against the US-based streamer, claiming: “I will kick their asses.”
BABY REINDEER BY NUMBERS
The Netflix series has become quite the breakout smash hit...
- 13.3 million Number of viewers who tuned into the show during its first week
- 7 Number of episodes in the series
- 41,071 Amount of emails Richard claims he was sent by the real life Martha
- 64 Percentage increase in viewers the show earned in its second week, compared to its first
- 97 The show’s percentage score on industry bible Rotten Tomatoes
- 30 Number of countries the series has topped the Netflix chart in
Harvey, of Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, revealed she wants her day in court after Baby Reindeer fans tracked her down and sent her a torrent of abusive messages.
She told The Scottish Sun: “I have a claim against Netflix as this is being billed as part of a true story.
“There’s a fat actress that’s supposed to be me.
“I’m a highly competent lawyer. I’d have to do it myself. I’m very good.”