Who is Nava Mau? Meet the Baby Reindeer star playing Teri

Among them is Nava Mau, who plays Donny Dunn's (Gadd) love interest, Teri. Like Jessica Gunning's Martha, Teri is based on a real person, with Gadd confirming that she was "the voice of reason in my life at that point", although he never "listened to her as much as [he] should have".

Perhaps the character with the happiest ending, Teri's story has certainly resonated with many viewers, with actress Mau telling HuffPost: "I've been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people's responses.

"It's incredible that people are engaging with the story in their own language and in their own way. That's all you can ever hope for as an artist."

Wondering what else Mau has starred in and what else she's said about the show? Read on for everything you need to know about the Baby Reindeer star.

Who is Nava Mau?

Mau is an actor, filmmaker and director who has served as producer on short films Sam's Town, Lovebites and Walking Hour.

Speaking about her career in the film and TV industry, Mau told Elle in 2021: "I do really like working in a variety of capacities. I would say that my favourites are directing and acting, obviously."

What else has Nava Mau starred in?

Mau previously starred in HBO series Generation, which first aired in 2021. She played a character called Ana.

What has Nava Mau said about starring in Baby Reindeer?

Mau plays Teri in Baby Reindeer, an American therapist and a trans woman who Donny meets on a dating app. Through her character, the series explores Donny's internalised homophobia and shame.

On appearing in the series, she told Digital Spy: "It seemed really important to show people that trans women exist in real life and in relationships with real people… I could see Richard's heart in the writing, and I hope that people will see it too."

She previously told Netflix Tudum: "When I was reading the script, it felt like the first time reading a character that was written by someone who actually had known and loved a trans woman.

"And it felt like an honour to even get to read the script because of Richard's vulnerability. There's a light that I think pulsates out of that kind of vulnerability, and so all of the characters in the story then are cast in that light. And I felt that in that first read of Teri."

Speaking about how she felt empowered playing the character, Mau told Attitude Magazine: "She has her own life. She didn't need [Donny]. I think she wanted to be with him, but she's complete. And I think that in the story, in some ways, she's a pillar and then all this other stuff is happening around her.

"So yeah, I felt empowered playing Teri. I learned a lot from her, I really did."

Read more:

• Baby Reindeer review: Richard Gadd bares soul in gripping emotional rollercoaster
• Who was Llewellyn Harrison? Baby Reindeer dedication explained

Mau also recently described a deleted scene that gave closure to her character that was cut out of the show.

In the series, Teri and Donny break up, and Teri is fleetingly seen dating someone else.

Speaking to GQ, Mau said they had actually filmed a scene that occurred after the events of the show.

"There actually was one more piece of Teri and Donny's relationship in the script, and I performed it," Mau said. "Teri leaves Donny a voicemail five months later. So I think, for me, I got closure because Teri did too. That's what gave me so much comfort, knowing that they found peace with regards to their relationship."

She continued: "Teri got her happy ending, you know? Teri found a new man, she didn't lose her friends, she didn't lose her job, she didn't lose her smile. She's good. And I think that is remarkable – because so often we've seen stories of trans people that end with them broken."

Is Nava Mau on Instagram?

Yes, she can be found at the handle @navamau. At present, she has over 230,000 followers.

Is Nava Mau on Twitter/X?

Yes, she can be found at the handle @navamau.

Anyone affected by Richard Gadd's stalking story can find support by visiting the NHS website or contacting Victim Support.

All seven episodes of Baby Reindeer are now available to stream on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.

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