Richard Gadd

Well, I mean, the biggest one, I think, is probably Jess, Jess Gunning.

Well, I mean, I was so unyielding in the fact she had to be Martha that I was sort of willing to alienate everyone in order to get her on the show.

There was a lot of things like with Baby Rainier, like it was obviously the right choice for so many reasons.

I mean, in my opinion, I'm biased, obviously, but one of the best performances ever, I think, on TV.

I think she auditioned like six times, you know, in the end.

And she came in for the first one and I knew straight away

that it was Martha like I knew straight away this was what I wanted out the character funny kind of cute but sort of slightly like a bit unhinged and capable of switching and vulnerable you know like a lot of I saw the most amazing amazing actors for that role there was always a sense of

perhaps playing the madness a bit too much, you know, which is very, very easy to do.

I've been so guilty of still playing the character in editions and stuff like that.

But she came in and she played the truth, which I suppose is, I think people in editions think they, actors think that you look for good acting.

I don't think actually like sort of producers and directors look for good acting.

They look for truth almost in a way, like this kind of window into a character's soul.

And I just saw it.

And I think there was a lot of,

Baby Reindeer was quite like 4IP at that stage.

And there was a lot of talk about, you know, a lot of famous people being in the role, especially the role of Martha, which was an actor's dream in a lot of ways, you know?

And I really did not want a famous person in that show.

I just didn't.

I thought that it would become a vehicle for their fame.

And I think like, I really am all for, and I urge directors, production companies, everything to cast unknowns, because I think it allows you to see the art more clearly.