Jessica Gunning from Baby Reindeer Clinches Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress

The Netflix miniseries Baby Reindeer garnered an impressive 11 Emmy Awards nominations at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, ultimately winning a total of 6 Emmys, including the prestigious Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series.

Jessica Gunning, who portrayed Martha Scott, received the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress. This victory marks her first Emmy nomination and win at age 38.

The official synopsis for Baby Reindeer reveals:

“When a struggling comedian shows one act of kindness to a vulnerable woman, it sparks a suffocating obsession which threatens to wreck both their lives.”

This gripping miniseries explores heavy themes of trauma, addiction, and stalking. Gunning’s portrayal of a stalker has garnered her critical acclaim.

Jessica Gunning’s Role as Martha in Baby Reindeer

In Baby Reindeer, Jessica Gunning embodies the character of Martha, a former lawyer with a troubled past who becomes dangerously obsessed with Donny (played by Richard Gadd), a bartender she encounters, leading her to stalk him obsessively both online and offline.

Her intense performance earned her an Emmy in a category featuring numerous notable contenders this year. Here’s a list of her fellow nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie:

Dakota Fanning (Ripley)
Lily Gladstone (Under the Bridge)
Aja Naomi King (Lessons in Chemistry)
Diane Lane (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans)
Nava Mau (Baby Reindeer)
Kali Reis (True Detective: Night Country)

When she received her award, Gunning described the moment as surreal, stating:

“I honestly feel like I’m going to wake up any minute now; this whole thing has been a dream. Thank you very, very much indeed.”

She also expressed her gratitude for being part of Baby Reindeer:

“I’m so incredibly proud to be part of Baby Reindeer. So I would just love to say a huge ‘thank you’ to everybody who let me, really.”

Her heartfelt appreciation particularly extended to the show’s creator, Richard Gadd. In a report by People magazine on June 6, 2024, it was revealed that Gunning was a fan of Gadd’s work prior to collaborating with him, having enjoyed his performance in the show Monkey See, Monkey Do.

To Richard Gadd, she conveyed:

“I’ll keep it simple and just say thank you for trusting me to be your Martha. I will never, ever forget her or you or this. It really means a lot.”

Before her breakthrough with Baby Reindeer, Gunning appeared in acclaimed shows and films such as Pride, The Outlaws, and White Heat.

Baby Reindeer’s Emmy Success

The miniseries had already secured two awards at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards just days prior. With four additional accolades, its total Emmy wins reached an impressive six out of its eleven nominations. Here are the categories where the show triumphed:

Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie (Richard Gadd)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie (Jessica Gunning)
Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie (Richard Gadd)
Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie (Nina Gold and Martin Ware)
Outstanding Picture Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie (Peter H. Oliver and Benjamin Gerstein)