The queer icon took home the award for Supporting Actress
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY NETFLIX
Jessica Gunning took home the coveted Supporting Actress award at this year’s BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises for her role in Baby Reindeer.
Starring as Martha in Richard Gadd’s Netflix phenomenon, Jessica blew audiences away with her show-stopping performance. The series followed the life of a down-on-his-luck comedian who starts being stalked by a regular customer at his local bar, Martha. Showcasing a whole cast of incredible performances, the series has already picked up Critic’s Choice, Golden Globe and Emmy Awards.
Accepting the award in a stunning green dress, Jessica gave a teary speech thanking the Baby Reindeer team. Reflecting on herself just a year ago, she said: “I am so proud to be part of this show. Thank you, Richard [Gadd]. You changed my life with Baby Reindeer.”
Since starring in the 2014 beloved film Pride, Jessica has been a queer icon. She came out in 2024 on the podcast Reign With Josh Smith, where she spoke about realising that she was “a big, old gay” in 2022. Since then, she has gone on to champion the LGBTQIA community, becoming a patron of Hackney Showroom in February 2025.
Baby Reindeer was a hit with LGBTQIA audiences, starring Nava Mau as the trans therapist Teri. Following the release of Baby Reindeer last year, Nava told DIVA: “This still feels groundbreaking to have a trans woman be one of the main characters in a series that feels like it’s written in a respectful and loving and nuanced way, so it’s an honour for me to have that opportunity. What a dream as an actor to actually have a role that is layered and integral to the story.”
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