Nava Mau (born May 14, 1992) is an American actress and filmmaker,[2] known for appearing in theNetflix British dark drama seriesBaby Reindeer (2024),[3] and theHBO Max comedyGeneration (2021). Her performance in the former earned her a nomination for aPrimetime Emmy Award.[4]
Early life and education
Nava Mau was born inMexico City, the child of a counsellor and an accountant father.[1] She was raised in Mexico City[5] andSan Antonio,Texas, and later moved toOakland, California, as a young adult.[6][7] Mau earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in linguistics and cognitive science fromPomona College.[8]
Career
Mau's initial career involved work as a legal assistant with immigrant survivors of violence. She then worked as a peer counselor, in addition to conducting advocacy work for LGBTQ survivors of violence.[3]
In 2019, she was the lead actress, director and producer ofWaking Hour.[9] In the film, Mau starred as Sofia, a young transgender woman who meets a potential romantic connection Isaac, a cisgender man, at a party. Mau's character must balance her desire to be intimate with someone and her own sense of personal safety.[10] In 2020, she was selected as a production fellow for theNetflix documentaryDisclosure,[11] and worked as a producer on the short filmWork, which premiered at Sundance.[12] Mau also produced the short filmsSam's Town andLovebites.[13] In 2021, she starred in theHBO Max seriesGeneration as part of the show's main cast. She played the part of Ana, the aunt of one of the series' main teenage characters.[14]
In 2024, she starred in the Netflix seriesBaby Reindeer as Teri,[15] the girlfriend of protagonist Donny Dunn.[16][17][18] The series, which started as a stage play at theEdinburgh Festival Fringe,[19] had seven episodes and received critical acclaim.[20][12] Mau received anEmmy nomination forsupporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie, making her the first openly trans woman to be nominated for that category of the Primetime Emmys.[21] On her role as Teri inBaby Reindeer, Mau commented, "It seemed really important to show people that trans women exist in real life and in relationships with real people."[22]
Personal life
Mau is atransgender woman and has played a transgender character in most productions she has worked on.[23]
Awards
Mau has been awarded the NewFest Audience Award[citation needed] and the YoSoy Award from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation[24] for her work in film.
