Baby Reindeer star Jessica Gunning reveals exact moment she 'should've known she's gay'

Baby Reindeer Martha Scott actress Jessica Gunning has shared the moment she 'should have known she was gay' as she reveals what it was like coming out aged 36

Baby Reindeer star Jessica Gunning has revealed what it was like coming out as gay aged 36.

The actress, now 38, is best known for starring as stalker Martha Scott in the hit Netflix series Baby Reindeer earlier this year. She shot to fame thanks to her award-winning role in the series, with more interest being taken in her personal life. Jessica, who has been a longtime LGBTQ+ activist, came out as gay in November 2022.

She revealed it was a "mega, mega thing" for her and that she told her family that Christmas. The TV star said it was a "little secret" she had been keeping, even from herself. Jessica proudly shared her sexuality in an interview as a story was published, quoting her calling herself a "big old gay".

However, when collecting The Culture Award at this year's Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, powered by Jaguar Jessica shared: "I kind of meant it in a throwaway way, like 'big ol' gay'. But the next thing it is like 'Jessica Gunning comes out as a big, old gay'. I mean those three words are true so I guess I have to own it."

Jessica starred in the 2014 film Pride, which portrayed a group of gay activists joining the miners' strike in the 1980s. To celebrate the film's tenth anniversary, Jessica was invited to do a question and answer session with fans. Speaking on stage, she said: "I realised I actually hadn't seen the film since coming out, so I said I would love to be there and watch it.

"It was really emosh actually. I have always obviously been a big, old gay but it took me 36 years to realise it. As I was watching, me on the screen I was like 'I am gay there'. I should have known in hindsight because I cried so much during that film, all the time and even in my audition. As I left the first audition, I said to Stephen the writer, 'this is the best thing I have ever read, I cried my t**s off'."

Jessica continued: "It has just been amazing to watch that film back and actually watching everything I have done back. I have always been a big, old gay but not knowing it. If I knew what I was doing Pride that I would be here, ten years on, feeling the most myself I have ever felt and the most welcome in a room like this, I would have been very proud indeed."

The actress opened up about her sexuality earlier this year while on podcast Reign with Josh Smith. She shared: "It's been a little secret, I guess I've been keeping from myself even. And not in a kind of hating way. I never felt I was repressing anything in a bad way or that any reaction would be bad. I just kind of was like, I didn't think I could be."

Jessica added: “I mean, in hindsight, I used to go downstairs and watch The L Word. So probably that would've been a bit of a giveaway… I should have even known when I did Pride, I would cry all the time. All the time. I found it so emotional. I should have really known then. And then I did a play with Cate Blanchett where I got to kiss her every night on stage again, should have known then. All these signs from the universe! It took me 36 years, but I did it.”

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