“ Baby Reindeer ” star Nava Mau made history Wednesday — by scoring her first Emmy nod.
The Mexico-born actor became the first Latina trans person in history to be nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her performance in the harrowing Netflix series, in which she plays a transgender woman whose boyfriend gets caught up with a dangerous stalker.
While she has yet to comment on the historic feat, Mau told The Hollywood Reporter in May that she “stayed up all night” and “started journaling” after first reading the script for the series, because the story of her character, Teri, caused her to reflect on her own journey as a trans woman.
“I had no idea that I internalized so much anger and that I shut it down,” Mau said. “As a trans woman, as a Latina woman, I have had to do that in order to survive … it’s kind of been my responsibility to take care of other people’s emotions.”
“It was so difficult and challenging, honestly, to play a character who felt so entitled to her own emotions and was not too concerned about taking care of other people’s emotions,” she continued. “That was very empowering for me to get in tune with my body again.”
“Baby Reindeer” follows London bartender Donny Dunn (Richard Gadd) on his quest to find fame as a comedian, only to endure repeated sexual abuse and fall into drug abuse. It innocently begins with Dunn kindly helping a stranger — who proceeds to stalk him.
Fiona Harvey, a woman who claims she inspired the stalker character, recently sued Netflix for $170 million in damages . Harvey says the portrayal of the stalker character was inaccurate and “forced” her to come forward after viewers of the series began harassing her.
Mau, born in Mexico, is now the first Latina trans woman ever nominated in her category.
The show amassed more than 56 million views within 26 days of its April 11 release, according to THR . Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos remarked in a recent interview with The New York Times that it’s “an enormous hit around the world.”
Gadd originally brought the story to the stage in London. After adapting the play into a series and writing every episode himself , he was nominated Wednesday in the Outstanding Lead Actor category — and saw his passion project earn a total of 11 nominations, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series.
“Thanks to everyone who worked on this show,” Gadd wrote Wednesday on Instagram . “To the Television Academy for recognising it. To Netflix for taking a chance on it. To Clerkenwell [Films] for producing it. To the incredible cast and crew for nailing it.”
“To my wonderful family and friends for everything,” he added. “I love you all.”
While it remains to be seen whether Mau will make even bigger history by winning her Emmy at the upcoming ceremony, she follows in the admirable footsteps of “Pose” star Mj Rodriguez, who became the first trans actor nominated for a leading role in 2021.
The 76th Emmy Awards will air live on ABC on Sept. 15.
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