The Emmy Awards have witnessed a remarkable performance from the British television series Baby Reindeer, which took home four prestigious accolades during the ceremony held in Los Angeles. Richard Gadd, the creator and star of the show, garnered three awards for acting, writing, and executive producing. His co-star Jessica Gunning, recognized for her role as stalker Martha, claimed the title of best supporting actress in a limited series. Expressing her disbelief upon receiving the award, Gunning said, “I honestly feel like I’m going to wake up any minute now and this whole thing has been a dream.”
Baby Reindeer, which centers on Gadd’s experiences with stalking and abuse, has sparked significant conversation this year. Its claim of being a “true story” has stirred controversy, particularly as the real-life individual who reportedly inspired Gunning’s character is suing Netflix for defamation, negligence, and violations of privacy.
During his acceptance speech for the best writing award, Gadd reflected on his journey, stating, “Ten years ago, I was down and out. I never ever thought I’d be able to rectify myself for what happened to me… And then here I am, just over a decade later, picking up one of the biggest writing awards in television.” He encouraged others facing struggles to persevere and acknowledged the show’s substantial impact globally.
In the comedy categories, The Bear celebrated success with three acting awards, including best comedy actor for Jeremy Allen White, who has now won this title two consecutive years. Liza Colon-Zayas, winning for supporting actress, encouraged Latinas to keep believing and advocating for their rights. Despite its accolades, The Bear lost the night’s biggest award for best comedy series to the celebrated show Hacks, which explores the relationship between a veteran comedian and her younger writer. Jean Smart, the star of Hacks, secured her third Emmy for best comedy actress.
In the drama categories, Elizabeth Debicki was honored with her first Emmy for best drama actress for her portrayal of Princess Diana in the final season of The Crown. However, The Crown received no other awards during the event.
Japanese historical series Shogun made history by dominating the drama categories, having previously won 14 awards at the Creative Arts Emmys. It added four more Emmy Awards at the main ceremony, including best drama series—a first for a non-English language show. The cast members Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai also received accolades for their leading performances.
The night also saw The Traitors triumph over RuPaul’s Drag Race, adding more excitement to the climax of the Emmy Awards.