Laverne Cox and Nava Mau Shared an Emotional Embrace on the Emmys 2024 Red Carpet

The strong and connective tissue that a shared history—and shared making-of-history—can provide was on full display on the Emmys 2024 red carpet in an emotional moment between Laverne Cox and Nava Mau.

Cox, anchoring E!’s red carpet coverage for the night, couldn’t get more than a word out, nor could Mau, nominated in the best supporting actress in a limited series category for Baby Reindeer, before bursting into tears when they greeted one another for an interview.

“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,” Cox told Mau. “You’re the fourth, and you’re the first in this category.”

The 2014 nomination was in the outstanding guest actress in a comedy series category for Cox’s turn as Sophia on Orange Is the New Black, a role she’d be nominated for three more times during the show’s run.

When the two met on the red carpet Sunday evening, they each got out a “hi” before wrapping one another in a tight, prolonged hug, swaying side to side, both visibly emotional.

“I’m supposed to keep it together, I’m the host,” Cox reminded, seemingly, herself.

“Me too!” Mau said.

The two discussed being part of history, transgender representation onscreen, and the fact that Baby Reindeer is just a really good show.

“That’s what I think the best thing to celebrate about Baby Reindeer, that yes, it’s an LGBTQ show; it’s a show that has a trans character on it, and it’s also a really good show, and it’s something I’m very proud of,” Mau said. “And ultimately, I hope that we continue to get to be all that we are as trans people on screen.”

Mau also thanked Cox for helping her feel seen in the industry thanks to the 2020 Netflix documentary Disclosure, which looked at the representation of transgender people in pop culture over time. Cox was featured in the doc, and Mau worked on it as well.

“I saw trans people in positions of leadership,” Mau said of working on the set. “I got to see you walking in all of your grace and all of your power and I saw that I could be dream bigger than what I had dreamt for myself.”

Cox left Mau with words of encouragement and an affirmation of their mutual admiration.

“You’re making history and you’re making us all so very proud,” Cox said.

Though Mau didn’t win her category, Baby Reindeer scooped up other accolades throughout the night, and Mau’s emotional moment with Cox was one of the most indelible of the evening.

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