Quick Facts
Biography
Jessica Gunning is a British television and theatre actress. She was educated at Holmfirth High School near Huddersfield before attending Rose Bruford College, graduating in 2007.
Acting career
Jessica began her stage career at the National Theatre, with productions including Much Ado About Nothing and Major Barbara.
On television, she guest-starred in the Doctor Who episode "Partners in Crime". She also appeared in Mutual Friends before taking a recurring role as the character Angela in Law & Order: UK in 2009. She also recurred on Life of Riley as well as playing Branita in the TV Movie Lizzie and Sarah, written by Julia Davis and Jessica Hynes. Roles in 2011 included a leading role in the short film Ghost in the Machine.
In 2012 she played the character of Orla in the BBC television series White Heat. This was followed by a lead role as Melissa Young in BBC drama What Remains. In 2013, Gunning also played the part of Summer in an episode of Great Night Out for ITV.
In 2014 Jessica starred as Siân James in Golden Globe and BAFTA nominated film Pride, and finished the year in That Day We Sang, a television film written and directed by Victoria Wood.
She was also seen in The Woman in Red and Sky Atlantic TV Series Fortitude.
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Adam and Shelley | Scarlet | |
| 2008 | Doctor Who | Stacey Campbell | "Partners in Crime" |
| 2008 | Mutual Friends | Maryka | |
| 2009–2011 | Law & Order: UK | Angela | 20 episodes |
| 2009–2010 | Life of Riley | Annie/ babysitter | 3 episodes |
| 2010 | Lizzie and Sarah | Branita | |
| 2010 | Doctors | Ann Turnbull | |
| 2011 | Holby City | Gwen Bishop | |
| 2012 | White Heat | Orla | 6 episodes |
| 2012 | Caroline Quentin's Little Cracker: The Nutcracker | Matron | |
| 2013 | Great Night Out | Summer | |
| 2013 | Common Ground: Adventure Venture | Emma | |
| 2013 | Quick Cuts | Annie | |
| 2013 | What Remains | Melissa Young | 4 episodes |
| 2014 | That Day We Sang | Pauline | |
| 2015 | The Woman in Red | Mary Sotheby | |
| 2015, 2018 | Fortitude | Shirley Allerdyce | 10 episodes |
| 2015 | Inside No. 9 | Shona | Episode: "La Couchette" |
| 2015 | Top Coppers | Romero | Episode: "The Twist of the French Nicker" |
| 2017 | Prime Suspect 1973 | WPC Kath Morgan | 6 episodes |
| 2017 | The State | Umm Walid | 4 episodes |
| 2017 | Back | Jan | |
| 2018 | Trollied | Donna Calabrese | Series 7 |
| 2018 | Strike-Career of Evil | Holly Brockbank | 1 episode |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Ghost in the Machine (short) | Noreen | |
| 2014 | Pride | Siân James |