How ‘Baby Reindeer’ Became an Unlikely Front-Runner at the Emmys 2024

No one is more surprised than Netflix that Baby Reindeer is poised to sweep the limited-series categories at the Emmys 2024. Ahead of the show’s April premiere, the streamer had no formal plans to launch an awards campaign for Baby Reindeer—instead focusing its efforts on more conventional contenders like Ripley. After all, how was an under-the-radar, strangely titled drama from an unknown Scottish comedian going to compete in an awards race dominated by more traditional fare like Fargo and True Detective: Night Country?

And then Baby Reindeer debuted. Critics and viewers immediately embraced the gut-wrenching project, based on Richard Gadd’s acclaimed one-man stage show about his real-life experiences with a stalker he names Martha (played in the series by Jessica Gunning). It shot to number one on Netflix’s daily top 10—and disrupted an awards race that had appeared to be mostly decided. “It’s weird that a show as messed up as this has gone on to strike a chord with so many people,” Gadd said while accepting an award at the inaugural Gotham TV Awards in June. “I think it speaks to the fact that, I think, a lot of people in the world are struggling right now. I don’t know much in the way of advice, but I do know that nothing lasts forever. So if you are in a rut, just keep going. Persevere, persevere, persevere, and I promise you things will get better.”

After the show’s splashy spring debut, the cast of Baby Reindeer was thrust onto the awards trail, and buzz even led to Gadd’s upcoming series with HBO. The series heads into the 76th Primetime Emmys with 11 nominations, and it already won two awards at the Creative Arts Emmys for editing and casting. Baby Reindeer is favored to win most of the categories in which its nominated during the main telecast, including outstanding limited or anthology series and both writing and directing for a limited series. On the acting side, Gadd is nominated for his lead performance; in outstanding supporting actress, both Gunning and Nava Mau (the first transgender performer to be nominated in this category) are recognized, while Tom Goodman-Hill, who played Gadd’s character’s sexual assault assailant, is nominated in supporting actor at the Emmys 2024.

The only barrier between Baby Reindeer and an armful of Emmys could be the looming controversy around its true story basis. In May, a woman named Fiona Harvey publicly identified herself as the model for Martha during a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan. Shortly thereafter, she took legal action against Netflix, suing the streamer for $170 million—alleging defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and violations of her right of publicity.

Gadd, who is not named as a defendant in the suit, previously implored viewers to stop searching for the real-life people behind his characters. “I think it does a disservice to the art. I’ve spoken out publicly against it and said that I wanted [it] to stop. I think that did have an impact,” he told Vanity Fair this spring. In a statement to VF at the time of the suit’s filing, a rep for Netflix said, “We intend to defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.”

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