Jessica Gunning Explained

Jessica Gunning
Birth Name:Jessica Faye Gunning
Birth Date:1 January 1986
Birth Place:Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, England, UK
Occupation:Actress

Jessica Faye Gunning (born 1 January 1986) is an English actress. She has appeared in the TV series White Heat (2012), What Remains (2013), Back (2017–2021), and The Outlaws (2021–2024). For her breakout role in the miniseries Baby Reindeer (2024), she received a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award.[1]

Early life and education

Gunning was born on New Years Day 1986 in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire.[2]

She was educated at Holmfirth High School near Huddersfield before attending Rose Bruford College, graduating in 2007.[3] [4]

Career

Gunning began her stage career at the National Theatre in productions including Much Ado About Nothing and Major Barbara.[5]

On television, she guest-starred in the 2008 Doctor Who episode "Partners in Crime".[6] She also appeared in Mutual Friends before taking a recurring role as Angela in in 2009.[7] She was also in Life of Riley as well as playing Branita in the TV pilot Lizzie and Sarah, written by Julia Davis and Jessica Hynes.

In 2012, she played the character of Orla in the BBC television series White Heat.[8] This was followed by a lead role as Melissa Young in BBC drama What Remains.[9] 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,[10] finishing 2014 in That Day We Sang, a television film written and directed by Victoria Wood.

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.

In 2019, Gunning performed on stage alongside Cate Blanchett at the National Theatre in When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other, written by Martin Crimp and directed by Katie Mitchell.[11]

Gunning played Jan in the Channel 4 comedy Back and in 2021 appeared as Diane Pemberley in BBC One's The Outlaws, created by Stephen Merchant. Gunning reprised her Outlaws role for series 2 and 3 in 2022 and 2024 respectively, joining the writing team of the show for one episode of the third series.[12]

In 2024, Gunning played Martha Scott in the Netflix drama-thriller Baby Reindeer.[13]

Personal life

Gunning is a lesbian, having come out to her family and friends in November 2022.[14] She confirmed her sexuality in a June 2024 interview, describing herself as a "big old gay".[15] 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] didn’t think that [she] could be [gay].[16]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
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 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–present The Outlaws Diane Pemberley 17 episodes; also writer of 1 episode
2024 Baby Reindeer Martha Scott 7 episodes

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2012 Ghost in the Machine Noreen Short
2014 Pride
2016 Love is Thicker than Water Emily
2019 The Mermaid of Mevagissey Nessa Short
2020 Summerland Mrs Bassett
TBA The Magic Faraway Tree Dame Washalot Filming

Notes and References

  1. News: Gonzalez . Shivani . Emmy Nominees 2024: The Complete List . July 17, 2024 . The New York Times. July 17, 2024.
  2. News: Cormack . Morgan . 15 April 2024 . Who is Jessica Gunning? Baby Reindeer star who plays Martha in Netflix series . 22 April 2024 . Radio Times.
  3. http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2012/02/29/holmfirth-s-jessica-gunning-has-been-in-doctor-who-law-order-and-now-she-s-set-to-star-in-bbc-drama-white-heat-86081-30426580/ Holmfirth's Jessica Gunning has been in Doctor Who, Law & Order and now she's set to star in BBC drama White Heat
  4. http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2012/03/07/denby-dale-actor-joins-holmfirth-actress-to-star-in-bbc-drama-86081-30475278/ Denby Dale actor joins Holmfirth actress to star in BBC drama
  5. http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/Jessica%20Gunning%2031147.twl National Theatre company members – Jessica Gunning
  6. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b009w049#credits/ BBC Website Doctor Who Partners in Crime
  7. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  8. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01db8vz/characters/orla White Heat characters – Orla
  9. https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/whatremains/jessica-gunning What Remains Press Pack
  10. https://variety.com/2014/film/news/surprise-pride-marches-into-golden-globes-race-1201377028/ Surprise Pride Marches into Golden Globes Race
  11. Web site: The week in theatre: When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other and more – review. 27 January 2019. Clapp. Susannah. The Guardian. 29 May 2024.
  12. Web site: The Outlaws’ Jessica Gunning returns as Diane Pemberley for series three . BBC Media Centre . 11 June 2024 . 3 May 2024.
  13. News: Richard Gadd's Baby Reindeer co-star 'checked in' on him during difficult scenes. Butt. Maira. 21 April 2024. The Independent. 22 April 2024.
  14. Web site: Wratten . Marcus . Baby Reindeer's Jessica Gunning comes out publicly as gay . PinkNews Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news LGBTQ+ news . 4 June 2024 . 4 June 2024.
  15. Web site: Baby Reindeer star Jessica Gunning comes out: "I realised I was a big, old gay" . diva-magazine.com . 4 June 2024 . 4 June 2024.
  16. Web site: Damshenas . Sam . 'I'm a big old gay': Baby Reindeer star Jessica Gunning comes out . . 4 June 2024 . 4 June 2024.