As one of the lead stars on FX’s “Pose,” actress and singer Michaela Jaé Rodriguez won the Golden Globe for best actress in a TV drama; she also became the first transgender woman to land an Emmy nomination in a major acting category. The star, currently seen on Apple TV+’s “Loot,” submitted this column to Variety in support of “Baby Reindeer” star Nava Mau, who is nominated this year in the limited series supporting actress category.
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When I received a Golden Globe Award for my work on “Pose,” there was an outpouring of love and support. I know this recognition was about my craft, but I also know it was deeply about community. That nomination and win were decades in the making. Before I came on the scene, trans actors like Candis Cayne, Alexandra Billings and Laverne Cox — among talented others — were paving the way for me to play roles that would challenge and demonstrate my artistry and breathe new characters into culture.
As someone who has had the privilege of working in front of the camera, experiencing the power of recognition, I understand the profound impact that it can have on an artist, individually, and on a community, collectively. Awards aren’t just about accolades; they open doors, usher in new stories, and invite us to see hope and possibility in the future of storytelling. It has been an honor to be a part of building this future and to see Nava Mau become one of our community’s artistic trailblazers.
In the heart-wrenching series “Baby Reindeer,” Nava delivers a transcendent and transformative performance as Teri, a trans Latina woman who’s a counselor, seeking romantic connection. Nava’s ability to convey vulnerability and strength in equally striking measure is what sets her and this performance apart.
Teri doesn’t simply exist as a surface-level device to educate the audience. Teri is the moral heart and anchor of the story. She is in turns confident, angry, despondent, insecure and a little messy. She speaks with an honesty and specificity that we rarely see on television about the experiences of loving and wanting to be loved in return as a trans woman of color, and all the challenges that can entail. Teri is an embodiment of contradictions. In essence, she gets to be human.
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Her nomination is deserved for her exceptional performance. If Nava were to win in her category, she would be the first out trans actor to receive an Emmy Award for performance!
In countries around the world, politicians and anti-trans activists are trying to roll back progress in the fight for trans acceptance. While ugly rhetoric, blatant misinformation, and violence targeting trans people escalates, Nava and her character Teri shine as truthful representation of what happens when we can be ourselves. We are strong, self-assured, and grounded in dignity we may not always receive from others.
This performance and nomination sends a powerful message to the entertainment industry and world that our artistry is worth celebrating and our humanity is not up for debate. By supporting stories that depict trans characters who are bold, exercise agency and embody a whole human experience in relationship to ourselves, other people and the world, we advance greater understanding and acceptance for people who are transgender.
A victory for Nava would be a historic milestone for Hollywood and for trans people, reflecting a true commitment to making a better world through telling stories that reach into the cultural moment and humanize us. When we have the opportunity to celebrate excellence and make history, I believe we should take it.
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