Richard Gadd scoops three Emmys as Baby Reindeer dominates
Richard Gadd has collected three awards for writing, producing and starring in Netflix hit series Baby Reindeer at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards.
Hollywood stars descended upon the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday for the second time this year to celebrate the best in television, after the September 2023 ceremony was delayed following the US writers’ and actors’ strikes.
Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon led the best dressed stars on the red carpet.
The awards were hosted by the father and son duo of Eugene and Dan Levy, the winning stars of the 2020 Emmys with their show Schitt’s Creek.
The drama Shogun and comedy Hacks were awarded top series, as Baby Reindeer and The Bear each took four awards.
Gadd gave emotional speeches on stage after scooping awards for the British thriller about a female stalker, said to be inspired by his real-life experiences.
“This is the stuff of dreams,” he said after winning his first Emmy in writing, before collecting outstanding limited or anthology series and lead actor in the same category.
Gadd said the awards for Baby Reindeer proved that “there’s no set formula” to success, despite there being a “slump” in the industry.
“The only constant across any success in television is good storytelling, good storytelling that speaks to our times. So take risks, push boundaries, explore the uncomfortable, dare to fail in order to achieve,” he told the audience.
After collecting his acting prize, Gadd also thanked his mother and father who “never, ever told me what I needed to do with my life”, which he described as “the greatest gift a parent can give a child”.
“They always said follow your heart and the rest will fall into place, and I think it’s good advice, follow your heart and the rest will fall into place,” he added.
His co-star Jessica Gunning also won the Emmy for best supporting actress in a limited or anthology series for playing Martha Scott, who stalks Gadd’s character Donny Dunn in the show.
“I am so incredibly proud to be a part of Baby Reindeer,” she said.
“My biggest thanks has to go to Mr Richard Gadd. I tried so many times to put into words what working on Baby Reindeer meant to me and I fail every time. So, I’m going to sing,” she joked.
“Thank you for trusting me to be your Martha. I will never, ever forget her or you or this.”
The show made headlines after a woman, who claimed to be the inspiration behind the character Martha, filed a lawsuit against Netflix and accused the story of being inaccurate.
Baby Reindeer was not alone in receiving multiple gongs, with hit series The Bear also taking home four wins.
In their opening monologue, father-son hosting duo Eugene and Dan Levy joked that the show – officially deemed a comedy programme – would be better off categorised as a drama.
The series is about a star chef (Jeremy Allen White) who returns to Chicago to run the family business after the death of his brother.
Allen White described himself as “so, so, so lucky” after picking up the Emmy for lead actor in a comedy series for his role as Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto.
“This show has changed my life, it has instilled a faith that change is possible, that change is possible if you are able to reach out, you are really truly not actually alone,” he said on stage.
His win came after US actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach won best supporting actor in a comedy for his role as restaurant manager Richard “Richie” Jerimovich in The Bear.
Meanwhile, the FX series Shogun, about lordly politicking in feudal Japan, had already set a record for most Emmys for a single season of a series, with its 14 wins at the precursor Creative Arts Emmy Awards last weekend.
The show seized all the Emmy power in the top categories by shifting from the limited series to the drama category in May when it began developing more seasons. And it was in some ways Emmy royalty from the start.
During the golden age of the miniseries, the original 1980 Shogun, based on James Clavell’s historical novel, won three including best limited series.
Veteran screen star Hiroyuki Sanada, who won the actor award, and Anna Sawai, the actress award, were the first Japanese actors to win Emmys.
Sanada had faced a challenge from Gary Oldman, who has been quietly creating one of his career defining roles on Apple TV+ as spy chief Jackson Lamb on Slow Horses.
Sawai’s competition included Emmy luminary Jennifer Aniston of The Morning Show, who has only won once before in 10 nominations, and Imelda Staunton, for playing Queen Elizabeth II on The Crown.
Elizabeth Debicki also won her first Emmy for her role as Diana, Princess of Wales in The Crown.
“Playing this part based on this unparalleled, incredible human being, has been my great privilege – it has been a gift,” Debicki said on stage after collecting the award for outstanding supporting actress in a drama.
Hacks was the surprise winner of its first best comedy series award, topping The Bear, which most had expected to take it after big wins earlier in the evening.
