'Baby Reindeer' Actor Nava Mau On The Show's Success, Her Character Teri And What's Next

Nearly a month after Baby Reindeer debuted to critical acclaim and boffo ratings, Nava Mau is still trying to wrap her mind around its success. 

Ive been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of peoples responses, the actor told HuffPost. Its incredible that people are engaging with the story in their own language and in their own way. Thats all you can ever hope for as an artist.

As Mau suggests, few recent series have generated as much feverish discourse among viewers as Baby Reindeer, unveiled on Netflix April 11. The psychological thriller follows fledging London comedian and bartender Donny Dunn (played by Richard Gadd ), who becomes an object of infatuation for a middle-aged, socially inept woman, Martha (Jessica Gunning ). 

Over the course of the shows seven episodes, Marthas seemingly playful crush on Donny escalates into full-blown stalking, both at his workplace and his home. Donnys only solace is his girlfriend, Teri (Mau), a therapist who is transgender. 

Much of the buzz on Baby Reindeer has emphasized the ways in which Marthas unhinged, increasingly violent behavior ends up forcing Donny to confront his own unresolved trauma, which stems from having been the victim of sexual assault. The series is an adaptation of Gadds one-man stage play , which was loosely   and perhaps controversially  based on his real-life experiences with a stalker in his early 20s. 

At the same time, Baby Reindeer also presents a rarity in mainstream television in its nuanced portrayal of the relationship between Donny and Teri, who is the shows most empathetic figure and a moral compass. Gadd, who is bisexual in real life, has confirmed that the woman who inspired the character of Teri was, in fact, transgender. 

It felt like the first time Ive read a character who felt like shed been written by somebody whod actually known and loved a trans woman, so I fell in love with her, too, Mau said. I dont think that means shes got it all figured out. I dont think that means that she always makes the best decisions. But at the very least, she loves herself enough to allow herself to take a leap and fall, because she knows she can get right back up again. 

Still, one point of contention among some viewers is whether Baby Reindeer depicts Donnys attraction to Teri as possibly being the result of his experience being sexually abused by another man. A mostly positive NPR review argued  that the series repeatedly and clumsily conflates the horror of abuse with the simple fact of queer sexuality. 

Mau, for her part, offers a different take. 

The story thats being told about Teri and Donnys relationship is based on a truthfulness thats rare to see on-screen, she said. I think theres real power in that.

She went on to note: Its not surprising that there are so many cisgender men in the world who dont know how to deal with the shame and stigma that has been placed on trans people and those who love us. Theres no handbook, and oftentimes theres no support, theres no understanding. Were all just figuring it out along the way.  

Mau, who grew up in Mexico City and San Antonio, Texas, has been turning her attention behind the camera lately, too. Earlier this month, she appeared in All the Words But the One , a short film she also wrote and directed, at the 2024 Maryland Film Festival. 

It explores questions about intimate partner violence, healing, accountability and forgiveness, she said. I specifically set out to write a character who hasnt gone on the healing journey that Ive gone on, and hasnt had the kind of support that Ive had, and finds herself in a new relationship without having healed the wounds of her past relationship. 

Though Mau admitted she was still taking in whats happening in terms of her newfound fame, shes hoping that the praise shes received for Baby Reindeer will lay the groundwork for future projects. 

The reason I came to the world of television and film was to tell stories that inspire change, that empower Black and brown queer and trans people, that encourage us to have more grace with each other, she said. As a trans Latina woman, the roles that are available to me are very limited.

Its common for someone like me to be very underestimated, to have to prove myself 10 times over, she continued. So I hope this work that Ive done gives the people who make the decisions a little more confidence, because Ive had that confidence.