On the 2024 Emmys red carpet on Sunday, September 15, trans actresses Laverne Cox and Nava Mau shared a moving moment as they celebrated their historic Emmy nominations.
- September 16, 2024
AceShowbiz - Laverne Cox, hosting the Emmys red carpet for E!, was overcome with emotion as she introduced "Baby Reindeer" star Nava Mau. The two actresses embraced in a tight hug, tears streaming down their faces.
"I'm so proud of you," Cox told Mau. "Ten years ago, I became the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an acting Emmy, and 10 years later, I'm not the last. You're the fourth, and you're the first in this category."
Mau, who is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series, responded by emphasizing the importance of authentic depictions of trans characters.
"We are humans first and foremost," she said. "Ultimately, I hope that we get to be all that we are as trans people on screen."
Cox and Mau also discussed the impact of the 2020 documentary "Disclosure," which featured Cox as an executive producer and Mau as a production fellow. Mau expressed how seeing trans people in positions of leadership inspired her.
"I saw that I could dream bigger than what I had dreamt for myself," Mau said. Cox concluded by praising Mau's work and her role in creating history. "You're making history and you're making us all so very proud," she said.
Mau did not ultimately win her Emmy, but the emotional moment between her and Cox was one of the most unforgettable of the evening. It highlighted the significance of their shared history as trailblazing trans actresses in the entertainment industry.