Netflix almost ruined Baby Reindeer by ‘aggressively pushing’ for Hollywood star to play Martha-Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro

Netflix had a very different idea of who they wanted to play Martha in Baby Reindeer (Picture: Ed Miller/Netflix)

It’s been claimed Netflix had a very different idea of who they wanted to play the stalker Martha in hit series Baby Reindeer.

The seven-part programme stars Jessica Gunning as the Scottish woman who stalks Richard Gadd’s character Donny Dunn.

His ordeal begins from a seemingly friendly encounter, to being sent thousands of emails when Martha’s obsession grows and turns sinister, as she begins waiting outside his house, sexually assaults him, harasses his parents and turns violent towards his girlfriend.

In recent weeks, more details about the ‘true story’ it was based on have emerged after the ‘real Martha’, said to be Fiona Harvey, came to light and spoke out in multiple interviews and an explosive Piers Morgan grilling.

She’s since brought a legal complaint and is suing Netflix for $170,000,000 (£132,000,000), alleging defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and violations of her right of publicity.

Meanwhile, Gunning has also felt the effects of the show’s roaring success, and said ‘people scream at me and run away’ in the street.

The character is played by Jessica Gunning (Picture: Ed Miller/Netflix)

Richard Gadd stars as Donny Dunn in the hit Netflix series (Picture: Ed Miller/Netflix / Avalon)

However, the star  – who publicly came out as gay earlier this month – was not the only actress Netflix bosses had their eye on, according to reports.

Variety claims that Netflix ‘pushed aggressively’ for Melissa McCarthy to be cast as Martha.

A source told the publication that the Bridesmaids actress met Gadd about the role, ‘but ultimately wasn’t interested’.

Ahead of the show airing, Outlaws actress Gunning spoke about wanting to do the role ‘justice’, telling Metro.co.uk: ‘Even when there were days I wasn’t in, I was thinking of Martha and the story, just wanting to do the best I could do.

Netflix reportedly ‘pushed’ for Martha to be played by Melissa McCarthy (Picture: Getty)

The ‘real Martha’ is said to be Fiona Harvey (Picture: Piers Morgan Uncensored/TalkTV/PA Wire)

‘In that aspect, I didn’t really let go of her until we finished filming. I couldn’t really put her to bed.

‘When you do a job like this as well, it’s long hours, and you’re there, and you’re in it. With this, emotionally, everyone was really invested… it does dominate your life… it took a while to, kind of, say goodbye in a way.

‘I was really sad when it finished, to say goodbye to her.’

She also praised Gadd’s script, and though viewers will never know how accurate her interpretation of Martha really is, added: ‘All the clues for the character for me were there. It was so rich and nuanced and thorough that I didn’t have to do much invention at all, really.

Melissa was reportedly not interested in playing Martha (Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Gunning has spoken about how she took on the role (Picture: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

‘All my answers, all my clues were really in the script, and that’s how I approached it from the get-go.

‘I did a little bit of research before filming started, just into things like this thing called limerence, which is a kind of obsession with being obsessed with somebody, and obviously I’m aware of all those amazing films that are about stalkers.

‘But this was unlike any of those things, so I don’t think you can really prepare apart from using the material as much as you can. I was just absolutely blessed to have one of the best stories I’ve ever read to work from.’

During Harvey’s Uncensored interview, she described the show as ‘a work of fiction, a work of hyperbole’, insisting: ‘I wanted to rebut that completely on this show – I am not a stalker, I have not been to jail, I’ve not got injunctions – it is complete nonsense.’

Speaking to broadcaster Morgan, she denied several parts of the Netflix series, and is now alleging it told ‘brutal lies’ about her.

In the lawsuit, the complaint says: ‘The lies that Defendants told about Harvey to over 50 million people worldwide include that Harvey is a twice-convicted stalker who was sentenced to five years in prison, and that Harvey sexually assaulted Gadd.

‘Defendants told these lies, and never stopped, because it was a better story than the truth, and better stories made money.’

It continues: ‘As a result of Defendants’ lies, malfeasance and utterly reckless misconduct, Harvey’s life had been ruined. Simply, Netflix and Gadd destroyed her reputation, her character and her life.’

A Netflix spokesperson previously said: ‘We intend to defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.’

Metro.co.uk has approached Netflix for comment.

Baby Reindeer is available to watch on Netflix.

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