{"id":49512,"date":"2024-04-13T13:45:03","date_gmt":"2024-04-13T11:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=2024717"},"modified":"2024-04-13T15:12:38","modified_gmt":"2024-04-13T13:12:38","slug":"baby-reindeer-star-on-why-people-shouldnt-see-martha-as-a-villain","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/baby-reindeer-star-on-why-people-shouldnt-see-martha-as-a-villain\/","title":{"rendered":"Baby Reindeer star on why people shouldn\u2019t see Martha as a \u201cvillain\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Warning: Spoilers for Baby Reindeer on Netflix. <\/p>

By Katelyn Mensah\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Saturday, 13 April 2024 at 11:45 AM<\/p>

\n\n

This article contains a discussion of stalking and sexual assault that some may find upsetting.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Netflix\u2019s new drama series Baby Reindeer<\/a> is inspired by Richard Gadd\u2019s ordeal of being stalked<\/a> and follows a fictionalised character played by Gadd as he deals with the impact of such an experience.<\/p>\n

At the centre of the seven-part drama series is a character named Martha (Jessica Gunning), a woman who meets Donny (portrayed by Gadd) at a pub and is offered a free cup of tea. This act spirals into a series of events which Donny does not see coming.<\/p>\n

What begins with Martha coming to the pub every time Donny starts a shift, turns into incessant e-mails, harassing his family and former partners and threatening phone calls.<\/p>\n

Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com<\/a> about her character, actress Jessica Gunning said: \u201cI fell in love with Martha and Donny and their story. There\u2019s an amazing stage direction that [Richard] put in on one of the final episodes just when we lock eyes across the room. It said \u2018This isn\u2019t a jump scare moment, this is just two lost people\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I think that\u2019s the through-line that really, really got me from the beginning. They meet each other at a time in each other\u2019s lives where they need each other weirdly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Donny\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Richard Gadd as Donny in Baby Reindeer.<\/span><\/figcaption> Netflix<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

While Donny deals with being stalked by Martha, viewers see Donny deal with a painful chapter of his life in which he was sexually assaulted.<\/p>\n

Star and creator Richard Gadd previously told RadioTimes.com<\/strong> that Baby Reindeer is much more than a series about stalking<\/a>, which is clear throughout the seven episodes as each character deals with different experiences and emotions as they navigate periods of their lives.<\/p>\n

Gadd explained: \u201cI think if you look closer at the show, it\u2019s much more than that. It\u2019s not just somebody hiding down a dark alleyway. For me, this show is about trauma\u2026 On the surface level, it is a stalking story, but underneath that, it is one that explores the ramifications of trauma.\u201d<\/p>

Gunning echoed this, adding that Martha could not be played as a \u201cscary person or as a villain\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to treat her with care and you have to really try and see every side to her as much as possible with a story like this,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it would\u2019ve been a shame to play her as a villain because I don\u2019t think she is that.\u201d<\/p>\n