While the runaway success of Netflix’s hit series Baby Reindeer earned Nava Mau instant fame, she’s only getting started in her career. Having now received critical recognition as a “breakthrough” star, the Emmy-nominated actress is looking forward to what’s next. And if you ask her, the future involves being seen as more than a trans actress.
On Thursday, Mau was named in the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)’s 2024 Breakthrough list for the US. The program, sponsored by Netflix, recognizes emerging talent across a host of creative fields.
Mau has previously starred in the queer HBO Max series Generation as well as producing, directing, and starring in the 2019 short film Waking Hour. But by portraying Teri, girlfriend to main character Donny in Richard Gadd’s semi-autobiographical series Baby Reindeer, Mau has experienced a whirlwind of success.
“It’s almost impossible to explain, it’s been a non-stop ride and it’s been beautiful getting to meet so many different people and to feel I don’t have to be so afraid of my own dreams any more,” Mau told PinkNews following her BAFTA nod. “I’m hoping this is just the beginning.”
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More specifically, one lifelong dream of Mau’s is to make the trip to a galaxy far, far away. “I mean, I’ve always wanted to create my own TV series, so that is still dream number one,” Mau said. “But I would love to be in the Star Wars world. I would lose my mind if that happened. Hopefully, one day.”
And it sounds like Mau will get near enough with her next upcoming project. “There’s a series I’ve been working on for three years now, and it’s a sci-fi show,” she said. “I kind of thought it would be impossible to pull off a sci-fi series, but that is kind of what I’m now manifesting.”
But her biggest aspiration — besides steady work — is to reach a point where her acting outshines her identity. “I don’t know a single trans actor who feels they have too much work available to them,” Mau said. “So often trans actors are still relegated to roles that are meant to serve only one very specific purpose in the story, and that hinges on them being trans. There’s not much else in terms of character development.”
“We still have a long way to go but more than anything, we need to be seen for all that we are and all that we can be because that’s simply a reality,” she concluded.
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