Baby Reindeer, a controversial British television series, made waves at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, snagging four trophies. Richard Gadd, the show’s creator and lead actor, received three awards for his work in acting, writing, and executive producing. Jessica Gunning, who portrayed the character Martha, was honored as best supporting actress in a limited series. She expressed her disbelief upon winning, saying, “Oh my goodness me, blinking heckers. Thank you so much. I honestly feel like I’m going to wake up any minute now and this whole thing has been a dream.”
The show, based on Gadd’s real-life experiences being stalked and abused, has sparked significant discussions, particularly over its claim of being a “true story.” A woman who allegedly inspired Gunning’s character is currently suing Netflix for defamation and privacy violations.
While accepting his award for best writing, Gadd reflected on his journey, stating that a decade ago he felt hopeless but now stood before the audience receiving one of television’s most prestigious writing accolades. He encouraged others facing challenges to keep persevering. Gadd has observed that the UK media overly emphasizes the negative aspects surrounding the series, despite its positive impact, which has resonated in various countries, including Lebanon and Qatar.
In other categories, The Bear claimed three acting awards, including best comedy actor for Jeremy Allen White. However, it was Hacks that won best comedy series, along with Jean Smart being awarded best comedy actress for her role in the show. The Bear was surprised not to win, as there were mixed reviews about its recent season.
In drama, Elizabeth Debicki took home her first Emmy for best drama actress for her portrayal of Princess Diana in The Crown’s final season. However, The Crown did not win additional awards.
Japanese historical drama Shogun made history at the Emmys, securing best drama series, becoming the first non-English language show to earn the title. Shogun also won several other awards, with Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai taking home lead drama acting honors. The executive producer expressed gratitude to the show’s supporters for believing in a costly subtitled Japanese period piece. Sanada shared part of his acceptance speech in Japanese, honoring the rich tradition of samurai dramas.
The Traitors also had a noteworthy evening, outperforming Drag Race in a competitive category.