Nava Mau Says Baby Reindeer Sets New Standard for Examining Trauma

Nava Mau made historical past on July 17 along with her first Emmy nomination for Netflix’s Child Reindeer, changing into the primary transgender actress to earn a nod for supporting actress in a restricted sequence — a momentous event that’s a part of the bigger “unbelievable and overwhelming” expertise Mau has had with the worldwide hit present. Talking with THR moments after her nom was introduced, Mau turned emotional when speaking of her fellow nominees — a lineup that features Dakota Fanning, Lily Gladstone, Diane Lane, Aja Naomi King and Kali Reis, plus Mau’s Child Reindeer co-star Jessica Gunning. “I’m so humbled to be included in a gaggle of girls who’ve clearly devoted their lives to this craft,” says Mau. “I hope that I can reside as much as the invitation.”

Mau was not anticipating such a prized honor when she was filming Child Reindeer final 12 months. The Mexican-born, U.S.-raised actress had solely a handful of credit on her résumé earlier than being forged within the sequence, together with the 2019 quick Waking Hour, which she additionally directed and produced, and a supporting position on the HBO Max dramedy Technology in 2021. However Child Reindeer instantly felt particular — significantly the character of Teri crafted by the sequence’ star and creator, Richard Gadd. “I had by no means learn a script that felt prefer it was written by somebody I had identified in one other life,” says Mau. “I had assumed that, with the intention to have the type of position that feels layered and constructed out to replicate the wealthy actuality of my very own life, I must write that position.”

Within the sequence, Gadd stars as struggling comic and bartender Donny Dunn, who’s stalked and harassed by an obsessive lady, Martha (Gunning). Nonetheless scuffling with the affect of a sexual assault by a mentor years earlier than, Donny meets Teri, a transgender lady, whereas utilizing a false identify. As their intimacy grows, so does Donny’s sense of disgrace and Martha’s depth, which ends up in a violent encounter between the 2 ladies that forces Donny to be sincere with Teri about his emotions for her — and himself. 

The sequence, which garnered 11 Emmy noms, turned a phenomenon when it launched in
April and is now one in all Netflix’s most watched sequence. Reputation is thrilling, however Mau admits she’s most proud about how Child Reindeer tackles sexual trauma and therapeutic — significantly from a male perspective, which regularly goes unexamined. 

“We’ve heard the decision for ladies’s voices and gender-diverse individuals’s voices to be centered as we dismantle the ills of patriarchy,” she says. “A part of that work is for males to create area for themselves, to reckon with the violence that patriarchy has inflicted [on men]. In the end, it truly is males’s accountability to deal with the way in which that patriarchy has created a tradition of violence, disgrace and silence.” 

This story first appeared within the August 14 situation of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click on right here to subscribe.