Holmfirth-born actress Jessica Gunning has made her debut at the Emmy Awards - and taken home her very first trophy.
The Baby Reindeer star won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, and graciously accepted the award with a moving speech.
The Emmy Awards took place last night in Los Angeles and saw stars from all areas of primetime, daytime and international television gather for a night of accolades.
Baby Reindeer, which follows the story of Donny, a young man who falls victim to stalking, found itself sweeping six awards with both the lead and supporting actors winning in their respective fields.Â
Jessica Gunning plays Martha, a stalker who makes frequent visits to The Heart, a London pub where the lead character works. Last night however, she found herself making frequent visits to the stage at The Peacock Theatre in LA.
The West-Yorkshire born performer won her sole nomination, beating fellow cast mate Nava Mau or ‘Teri’, a trans therapist who later becomes a love interest of the lead character.
The now Emmy-award winning actress is no stranger to our screens as she has also starred in a few UK cult-classics like, ‘The Life of Riley’, ‘Doctor Who’ and BBC One drama ‘The Outlaws’.
Baby Reindeer has scooped Emmy Awards. Credit: Instagram, @mrrichardgaddHolmfirth actor Jessica Gunning won an Emmy award for Baby Reindeer. Credit: Instagram, @mrrichardgadd
Scottish comedian Richard Gadd plays the role of main character Donny, and also created the series, which is based on his own experiences.
The University of Glasgow alumni managed to win all three categories he was nominated for including Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series.Â
Gadd also took home the Writing for a Limited or Anthology series or Movie, for his screen-writing contributions for the miniseries.
The Netflix series, which hit our screens in April this year, bagged itself an overall win for Outstanding Limited or Anthology series category.
The title of the Emmy-winning series is named after Martha’s nickname for Donny, after saying he reminded her of a cute cuddly toy she had growing up, which also happened to be a baby reindeer.Â
When accepting her award, Gunning gushed: "I’ve tried so many times to put into words what working on Baby Reindeer meant to me, and I fail every time. So, I’m going to sing… no, imagine!"
She added to Gadd: "Thank you for trusting me to be your Martha. I'll never ever forget her or you or this."
Nestled in Armley, Assembly House is an independent creative hub bringing artists together.
Assembly House, based on Canal Road in Armley inside a historic Victorian mill, has become a home for creatives across Leeds since launching in 2013.
The artist-led organisation combines working studios with an independent gallery and project space, hosting everything from exhibitions and workshops to community events and live music.
The space is currently home to 80 creatives who make up their community, comprising of professional practitioners including educators, performers, painters, sculptors, illustrators, video artists and designers.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their aim is simple - to offer affordable studios to emerging artists alongside technical support, producing support along with access to workshops, internal film screenings and events.
Assembly House offer a yearly program of exhibitions designed to showcase the studio holders and get their work out there. It's all aimed at helping the artists, whether it's their first show or tenth. Â
It has also helped bring art into the wider neighbourhood through community murals, public sculptures and activities for local people.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
They believe art has the power to bring people together and to evoke emotion and thought, and we've got to say that we absolutely agree.
The space can also be hired by students and independent creatives looking to put on their own exhibitions or bring a project to life.
The fabulous venue is generally open to visitors during exhibitions, workshops and events, with visits by appointment at other times, so it's worth checking its website before heading over.
To have a look at their current programme and to find out more about what Assembly House are doing for Leeds and the community, you can take a look at their website here.
Leeds Palestinian Film Festival announces dates for 12th annual edition
Clementine Hall
The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival has announced the dates for this year's festival.
This year's festival will explore the words of the celebrated Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour: "To make art is to say we are here."
These words will reflect the content of this year's festival, which aim to keep Palestinian stories alive; defy the erasure of history; and bring voices from the depths of destruction.Â
The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival will open Friday 13 November at the iconic Hyde Park Picture House with Life Support, a documentary about doctors in Gaza directed by Daniele Rugo.
Image: Supplied
The screening will be followed by a live Q&A with the director and doctors from the film, chaired by Healthworkers4Palestine.
Early programme highlights include the UK premiere of Conversation with the Sea, Muayad Alayan's family drama in which a 60-year-old Palestinian man in Jerusalem, ordered by an Israeli court to pay a debt allegedly owed by his son who drowned decades ago, sets out to discover what happened.
Also showing will be Maggie Lemere's documentary, Land of Canaan, follows Palestinian farmers and their olive trees, some more than 1,000 years old, and the fair-trade movement led by Dr Nasser Abufarha to protect them.
Image: Supplied
Frances Bernstein, Festival Director, said: “To make art is to say we are here. We chose the words of the celebrated Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour as this year's theme because they reflect what the programme is for: keeping Palestinian stories alive, defying the erasure of Palestinian history, culture and identity, and bringing voices from the depth of destruction to audiences in Leeds."
The full programme, guests and ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks. You can find out more here.
Thomas Melia -
16th September 2024 
