The cast of Baby Reindeer, including Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning, attended a photo call for the screening of the show in LA. The actors posed arm in arm and joined Nava Mau and others for a Q and A on stage. In the show, Richard’s stalker is revealed as a Scottish woman in her 40s named Martha Scott, played by Jessica. The actress had a glamorous Hollywood makeover for the event, looking stunning in a green chiffon jumpsuit with a deep V neckline. Richard, who plays the show’s lead Donny Dunn, rocked a grey suit with a white shirt for the screening.
The story of Baby Reindeer is based on Richard’s real-life experience with a stalker named Martha, who developed an obsession with him. The show depicts Martha emailing Donny hundreds of times a day, showing up at his house, and harassing his family and friends. Richard struggled to have his concerns taken seriously by the police, as stalking by a female admirer of a male can often be trivialized. Making the show with Netflix, based on two critically acclaimed shows he performed at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, was cathartic for Richard and helped him come to terms with his past experiences.
Richard Gadd banned his parents from watching Baby Reindeer, despite its success on Netflix, as he pays for their subscription and wants to know if they disobey his wishes. He said that nearly all viewers will know intimate details about him after watching the show, leading to some anxiety about potential judgment. The cast, including Richard, Nava, and Jessica, appeared in a playful mood as they took selfies and posed for photos during the LA screening. Nava plays Donny’s partner Teri in the show, while Peter Oliver and Weronika Tofilska also joined the cast for the event.
Richard Gadd pitched the show to Netflix after combining two of his previous Edinburgh Fringe shows, Baby Reindeer and Monkey See, Monkey Do, which addressed his experiences with stalking and sexual assault. Over a period of four-and-a-half years, Richard received thousands of emails, tweets, letters, and voicemail messages from his stalker, showing the extent of her obsession. He expressed frustration with how stalking of men can be trivialized in media compared to female victims, and how it affected his ability to trust others. Despite the anxiety that comes with sharing his story, Richard believes that it was important for him to do so through the show.
The cast of Baby Reindeer showcased their style at the LA screening, with Jessica looking glamorous in her green jumpsuit and Richard in a stylish grey suit. The actors were in high spirits as they engaged in selfies and posed for photos, celebrating the success of the show. Richard’s real-life experience with stalking is depicted in the series, shedding light on the seriousness of the issue and the impact it can have on individuals. Despite the challenges he faced, Richard found a sense of catharsis in sharing his story through Baby Reindeer, giving voice to his experiences and raising awareness about the complexities of stalking.
