Richard Gadd’s Baby Reindeer Claims Four Emmy Awards, Including Best Writing

The British television sensation Baby Reindeer has made a significant impact at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, walking away with four prestigious trophies. The show’s creator and lead actor, Richard Gadd, captured three awards for acting, writing, and executive producing, while Jessica Gunning, who portrayed the character Martha, was honored as best supporting actress in a limited series.

An ecstatic Gunning expressed her disbelief upon receiving the award, stating, “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.”

Baby Reindeer, which centers on Gadd’s personal experiences of being stalked and subjected to abuse within the television industry, has been one of the most talked-about series of the year. However, its portrayal of real events has sparked controversy, particularly as the individual allegedly inspiring Gunning’s character is currently pursuing legal action against Netflix for defamation and privacy violations.

In a heartfelt acceptance speech for his writing award, Gadd reflected on his journey, saying, “Ten years ago, I was down and out. I never thought I’d get my life together. And now, just over a decade later, here I am, picking up one of the biggest writing awards in television. I hope this serves as encouragement for anyone going through tough times to persevere.”

Before the ceremony, Gadd commented on the UK media’s focus on the negative aspects of the show, asserting, “You can’t ignore the positive impact Baby Reindeer has had. It’s been number one in places like Lebanon and Qatar, breaking through where few shows have.”

Comedy Categories Highlighted by Hacks

In the comedy categories, The Bear garnered three acting awards, with Jeremy Allen White winning best comedy actor for the second consecutive year. Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Liza Colon-Zayas also claimed supporting awards, the latter urging fellow Latinas to “keep believing” in their acceptance speech.

Despite its success in acting awards, The Bear did not secure the title of best comedy series, which surprisingly went to Hacks. The show, focusing on the complex relationship between a seasoned comedian and her younger writer, also saw Jean Smart win best comedy actress, marking her sixth Emmy win.

Dramatic Wins and Historical Achievements

In drama categories, Elizabeth Debicki received her first Emmy for her portrayal of Princess Diana in The Crown, while the show itself secured only one win in its final season. In contrast, the Japanese historical epic Shogun dominated the evening, taking home four awards, including best drama series—the first non-English language program to achieve this honor. The show also saw Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai win lead acting awards.

In a notable moment, Sanada expressed gratitude in Japanese, highlighting the dedication of those who have supported samurai period dramas, and thanking the backers for believing in a subtitled project centered on a poetry competition.

Additional Notable Awards

Billy Crudup won best supporting actor for The Morning Show, while Jodie Foster claimed the best actress award in a limited series for True Detective: Night Country. British talent was recognized as John Oliver won for best scripted variety series, and Will Smith received accolades for his writing in Slow Horses.

Lastly, The Traitors took home the award for best reality competition show, marking a shift in the category as it bested the long-reigning champion, RuPaul’s Drag Race. Host Alan Cumming also received the title of best reality competition host at the Creative Arts Emmys.

The Emmy ceremony highlighted a week full of excitement for Cumming, who recently became the new artistic director of the Pitlochry Festival Theatre in Scotland.