Winning a trophy wasn’t the only good thing that happened to Jessica Gunning at the 2025 Golden Globes on Sunday.

For her performance as stalker Martha in the addictive Netflix series Baby reindeerGunning beat out her fellow nominees to win the award for best supporting actress in a television series. Even better is veteran actress Kathy Bates, who was nominated for her leading role in television series Matlock, presented her with the prize. Gunning cited Bates as one of her inspirations Baby reindeer Perfomance.

In the 1991s Misery, Based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, Bates played Annie Wilkes, an overzealous fan of author Paul Sheldon (James Caan). She won an Oscar for her portrayal of the nurse who saves Sheldon after a car accident and holds him hostage while he writes a new novel.

After Gunning won an Emmy in September for her performance, which also happened to be presented by Bates, she told reporters that Bates influenced her portrayal of Martha Scott, a woman whose chance encounter with bartender and aspiring comedian Donny Dunn (Richard Gadd ) led to a stalker situation.

Gunning said she researched and specifically pointed out “people’s obsession” and the “iconic films” on the subject miseryper person.

The actress added that she was drawn to the script written by Gadd from the start. “I read all seven episodes at once and just fell in love with the story, the writing and the character of Martha,” Gunning said. “When we were filming, I was just so proud of Richard (and) this story. And when we made it, I think we all thought it was going to be this slow-burning indie hit that people could check out.”

Speaking in the Golden Globes press room after her big win, Gunning said she hopes “it won’t be another 17 years” before she lands a role like this. She added: “I don’t take it for granted at all… I pinch myself every day I get the chance.”

Other nominees in Gunning’s category included Liza Colón-Zayas for The bear, Hannah Einbinder for hacks, Dakota Fanning for Ripley, Allison Janney for The diplomat, and Kali rice for True Detective: Night Country.

This is Gunning’s first Golden Globe.