Jessica Gunning

Jessica Gunning is a British actress, born in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, in 1986, who came out publicly as gay in June 2024, sharing on a podcast that she had realized her sexuality in November 2022 after a conversation with a lesbian friend — describing the moment as "mega, mega" and saying she hadn't previously believed she "could be" gay despite being surrounded by queer friends for years. Gunning is best known for her breakout role as Martha in Baby Reindeer (2024), and her earlier work includes the 2014 film Pride, about LGBTQ+ activists supporting striking miners during the 1984 UK miners' strike. Her coming-out story has resonated widely for its honesty, humor, and the sense of peace she describes in finally living as her authentic self.