Jessica Gunning from Baby Reindeer Shares Her Thoughts on Never Being in a Relationship at 40
Jessica Gunning Shares Insights on Life, Love, and Identity
Jessica Gunning, star of Baby Reindeer, has revealed that she has never been in a romantic relationship. In a candid interview with The Times of London, published on March 22, the 40-year-old actress discussed how her single status played a role in her journey of self-discovery regarding her sexual identity.
“I’ve never been in a relationship before with anyone,” Gunning disclosed, noting that her environment—surrounded by friends who identified as gay—initially led her to believe she could not identify as such. “Everyone around me was gay. I just didn’t think I could be.”
Gunning came out publicly as gay in 2022, explaining that her questions about her sexuality were a significant reason for avoiding romantic connections. “Well, not to get too deep, but it was probably that I didn’t want to go out with guys and so I was finding a way to avoid it,” she said. She recounted her lack of flirtation skills, mentioning how she frequently played the role of matchmaker for her male friends. “In a way it was, like, ‘Great, because I’m not interested.’”
Additionally, Gunning connected her relationship history to her body image, stating, “It might be connected to size, maybe because I was bigger… I didn’t feel like an alien in a negative way, but it was, like, an otherness.” She further reflected on her feelings of otherness, suggesting that it served as a protective shield from confronting her lack of interest in men. “I was just, like, ‘Oh, it’s not the time for me,’ or whatever. And then, before I knew it I was in my 30s.”
Focusing on her acting career, Gunning embraced celibacy, stating, “My job was my passion and my love.” She described the characters she portrayed as a means of living vicariously, expressing fulfillment and happiness in her personal life despite the absence of romance. “It didn’t feel like I was lonely. I lived with my best mate. I felt fulfilled. I didn’t feel like I was lacking anything.”
Gunning’s prominence rose with her role in the 2024 production of Baby Reindeer, adapted from Richard Gadd’s one-man show detailing his experience with an alleged stalker. “I felt very protective of Richard,” she noted, expressing her affection for the collaborative nature of filming and the bonds formed with the crew. “I love filming, I love getting to know the crew. We get so close, I always grieve it when it’s over.”
Through her reflections, Gunning not only shares her journey but also sheds light on the complexities of identity and the paths individuals take in understanding themselves.
