2024 has been a standout year for Mexican actress Nava Mau. She starred in Netflix’s hit series Baby Reindeer alongside Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning. And her role as Teri was a beautifully complex story of the life, loves, and dating life of a trans woman establishing herself in the world and not hiding away from it. That role propelled her forward onto the world stage, leading to 9 nominees for her performance in Baby Reindeer, and even making her the first trans Emmy nominee at the 2024 Television Academy Emmys.
Nava Mau understands the importance of the position she’s been put in and the opportunities that are coming her way. Because in a world where studios are literally erasing our storylines or laws are being enacted to restrict gender affirming care to those who need it, it’s important for trans people to see themselves. That was the most important sentiment that Mau wanted us to understand when Remezcla spoke with her during an exclusive interview.
“We need to see ourselves. We need to see each other,” Mau said, who identifies as queer, trans, and Latinx. “And I think that there’s so much that can get in the way of that when you’re part of a marginalized community; especially if you’re part of multiple marginalized communities. And I think right now, being queer and trans, and being Latinx, are identities that are under fire. Our stories matter even more, I think in this moment.”
This is where everyone comes in. Because making sure that trans stories are told and supported isn’t just a job for transgender actors or people. It’s the job of people within the industry who are committed to telling human stories and those watching at home who support trans people. Mau said, “I think that we need people to see themselves as agents of social change. I think that people need to see themselves as advocates. Anybody can be an advocate. Anybody can be an ally. And creative work has space for that.”
By creative work Mau means TV shows, movies, and anything coming out of Hollywood that is dedicated to telling human stories. And creative work actually necessitates people being advocates and allies for those who have been marginalized historically and in the present. So that “means that casting directors, writers, producers, and studio executives need to expand how they think about characters and how they think about trans people. Because trans people are so expansive. Trans people exist in every facet of our society. And so we need to see that reflected on screen.”
A way that Mau is helping tell trans stories and reach new people after the success of Baby Reindeer is through the 2024 BAFTA Breakthrough Cohort initiative. BAFTA’s Breakthrough is the arts charity’s flagship talent initiative supported by Netflix that provides a springboard to creatives across film, games, and television. And it’s a way for Mau to connect with those in the industry and have her voice and perspective heard. She’s one of 13 of the US cohort class of 2024.
“My hope is that being part of this program means that we can keep working to break down those barriers so that ultimately we can be free on screen. And hopefully that will reflect a reality where we are free in real life as well,” Mau said. And even though things are just getting started, she recognizes the position she’s in and how it can create change. “The whole point is to kind of create connections with people in the industry. And so I’m going to make a list of people that I would like to meet with and even if just one person on the list is able to meet with me, I think I would feel very encouraged and hopefully get some words of wisdom to keep going in this fight.”
As for what’s next, outside of Baby Reindeer and the BAFTA program, Mau still has her North Star in mind when it comes to her career: directing. After all, she started as a writer/director and that’s the vision she still has for herself. “In a lot of ways [directing is] still the North Star. I’ve been very lucky to direct two short films. The latest one has been on the festival circuit this year and will hopefully be online next year. It’s called All the Words But the One.” According to Seed & Spark All the Words But the One sees Mau play Maya, a woman who realizes someone from her past is attending a dinner she’s at with her partner’s new boss.
Looking into 2025, Mau is also hoping to reconcile all the different parts of herself in her work and writer and direct more. “Hopefully I can create a series. And I’m hoping to direct a feature. I’m trying to bring it from the horizon and closer to the reality.” But that doesn’t mean that she’s going to stop acting. She doesn’t have to choose. She’s going to do it all.
“I don’t think I need to choose,” Mau said, “I don’t need to be boxed in. I want to be able to create my own work. That’s always been something that’s been a need of mine. And there’s nothing like seeing something that’s been written by someone else that I would’ve never expected. That feels like such a challenge and that creates space for growth, adventure, and a new connection. To me, that’s what acting is. I love getting a chance to dive into a new world, a new character. And I love being directed.”
“It just depends on what the project is.” Knowing what we know about Nava Mau and her talent, writing, directing, and work, we’ll watch anything she’s in or anything she creates.
Baby Reindeer, starring Nava Mau, is now available on Netflix.
