Jessica Gunning

Jessica Faye Gunning (born 1 January 1986) is an English actress. She has appeared in the TV series White Heat, What Remains (2013), Back (2017–2021), and The Outlaws (2021–2024). Gunning received widespread critical acclaim for her breakthrough role in the miniseries Baby Reindeer (2024) and won several accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, an Actor Award, a Critics' Choice Award and a British Academy Television Award.

Early life Jessica Faye Gunning was born on 1 January 1986 in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire. Her parents are Paul and Val Gunning. Her father works for Kirklees council, while her mother was a drama teacher at the school Gunning attended, Holmfirth High School. She has two siblings, Harriet and Josh.

She was educated at Holmfirth High School near Huddersfield, then Greenhead College, Huddersfield before attending Rose Bruford College, graduating in 2007.

Career Gunning began her stage career at the National Theatre in productions including Much Ado About Nothing and Major Barbara in 2007/2008.

On television, she guest-starred in the 2008 Doctor Who episode "Partners in Crime". She also appeared in Mutual Friends before taking a recurring role as Angela in Law & Order: UK in 2009.

In 2012, she played the character of Orla in the BBC television series White Heat. This was followed by a lead role as Melissa Young in BBC drama What Remains. In 2013, Gunning also played the part of Summer in an episode of Great Night Out for ITV and the following year starred as Siân James in the Golden Globe- and BAFTA-nominated film Pride.

In other television work, Gunning was also seen in The Scandalous Lady W on BBC Two and played Shirley Allerdyce in Sky Atlantic's series Fortitude. She played the character of WPC Kath Morgan in Prime Suspect 1973, DC Sophie Carson in In the Dark and Umm Walid in the Channel 4 drama The State (2017).

Gunning played Jan in the Channel 4 comedy Back,

In 2024, Gunning played Martha Scott in the Netflix drama-thriller Baby Reindeer,

In 2025, Gunning appeared in Steven Soderbergh’s comedy-drama The Christophers, playing one of the estranged children of artist Julian Sklar (portrayed by Sir Ian McKellen), opposite Michaela Coel and James Corden.

In 2026, Gunning starred as the hot-tempered laundress Dame Washalot in the Enid Blyton fantasy adventure film The Magic Faraway Tree, alongside Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy and Nicola Coughlan.

Gunning is set to star alongside Angelina Jolie in the comedy film Anxious People, directed by Marc Forster, and has joined the cast of Frank and Percy, which also stars Sir Ian McKellen as Percy and Roger Allam as Frank. She will also appear as singer Cass Elliot of the 1960s folk-rock group The Mamas & the Papas in the biographical drama My Mama Cass.

Personal life Gunning is a lesbian, having first come out to her family and friends in November 2022. She publicly came out in June 2024, describing herself as a "big old gay". Discussing her coming out experience, Gunning said that it was a "mega, mega thing for [her]", adding that although she was "surrounded by gays" and that "all [her] friends are gay" so she "wasn't repressing anything", it was just that she did not think that she could be gay.

Acting credits Film Year Title Role Notes 2012 Ghost in the Machine Noreen Short 2014 Pride Siân James 2016 Love is Thicker than Water Emily 2019 The Mermaid of Mevagissey Nessa Short 2020 Summerland Mrs Bassett 2025 The Christophers Sallie Sklar 2026 Sunny Dancer Karen The Magic Faraway Tree Dame Washalot Post-production Post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 2007 It's Adam and Shelley Scarlet 1 episode 2008 Doctor Who Stacy Campbell Episode: "Partners in Crime" Mutual Friends Maryka 1 episode 2009–2010 Life of Riley Annie the babysitter 3 episodes 2009–2014 Law & Order: UK Angela 29 episodes 2010 Lizzie and Sarah Branita TV film Doctors Ann Turnbull Episode: "Daddy's Home" 2011 Holby City Gwen Bishop Episode: "Blue Valentine" 2012 White Heat Orla 6 episodes Little Crackers Matron Episode: "Caroline Quentin's Little Cracker: Nutcracker" 2013 Great Night Out Summer 1 episode Common Ground: Adventure Venture Emma Episode: "Fergus & Crispin" Quick Cuts Annie 3 episodes What Remains Melissa Young 4 episodes 2014 That Day We Sang Pauline TV film 2015 The Scandalous Lady W Mary Sotheby TV film Top Coppers Romero Episode: "The Twist of the French Nicker" 2015, 2018 Fortitude Shirley Allerdyce 10 episodes 2015, 2024 Inside No. 9 Shona / Party Guest 2 episodes 2016 Jericho Mabel 5 episodes 2017 Urban Myths Border Officer Episode: "Bob Dylan: Knocking on Dave's Door" Prime Suspect 1973 WPC Kath Morgan 6 episodes In the Dark DC Sophia Carson 4 episodes The State Umm Walid 4 episodes What About Barb? Barb TV film 2017–2021 Back Jan 12 episodes 2018 Trollied Donna Calabrese 7 episodes Strike: Career of Evil Holly Brockbank 2 episodes Tourist Trap Maxine 1 episode 2019 MotherFatherSon Pam 3 episodes 2020 Isolation Stories Stranger Episode: "Mel" 2021–2024 The Outlaws Diane Pemberley 17 episodes; also writer of 1 episode 2024 Baby Reindeer Martha Scott 7 episodes TBA Berlin Noir Bertha Herzner Upcoming series

Audio Year Title Role Notes 2024 The Mysterious Affair at Styles Evelyn Howard Audible original

Awards and nominations Award Date of ceremony Category Nominated work Result Ref. British Academy Television Awards 11 May 2025 Best Supporting Actress Baby Reindeer Primetime Emmy Awards 15 September 2024 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Baby Reindeer Actor Awards 23 February 2025 Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Baby Reindeer Golden Globe Awards 5 January 2025 Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role on Television Baby Reindeer Critics' Choice Television Awards 7 February 2025 Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Baby Reindeer Satellite Awards 26 January 2025 Best Actress in a Miniseries, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television Baby Reindeer Film Independent Spirit Awards 22 February 2025 Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series Baby Reindeer Royal Television Society Programme Awards 25 March 2025 Supporting Actor – Female Baby Reindeer Online Film & Television Association 2024 Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, Limited or Anthology Series Baby Reindeer International Online Cinema Awards 2024 Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie Baby Reindeer Women in Film & TV Awards (UK) 2024 The Argonon Best Performance Award Baby Reindeer Gold Derby Awards 2024 Limited/Movie Supporting Actress Baby Reindeer Dorian Awards 2024 Best Supporting TV Performance – Drama Baby Reindeer I Talk Telly Awards 2024 Best Dramatic Performance Baby Reindeer Awards Daily Cooler Awards 2024 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series Baby Reindeer "An Irish Person" TV Awards 2024 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie Baby Reindeer Astra Television Awards 2024 Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie Baby Reindeer TV Scholar Awards 2024 Best Supporting Acting in a Limited Series Baby Reindeer