Baby Reindeer star Richard Gadd delivered a powerful speech while accepting his first Emmy Award ever.
The creator, star, and executive producer of the show, Gadd won an Emmy tonight for Outstanding Writing for a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie and for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie.
Adapted from his one-man autobiographical play, Baby Reindeer is allegedly based on Gadd’s true story and follows an aspiring comedian (Gadd) whose interactions with a new acquaintance named Martha (Jessica Gunning) gradually get more sinister.
Gadd won three Emmy awards tonight for Baby Reindeer. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
The show made waves earlier this year and swiftly topped Netflix‘s most-watched charts overnight. It also proceeded to win the Emmy award for Best Limited/Anthology series.
“This is the stuff of dreams,” Gadd said during his acceptance speech for Outstanding Writing for a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie. “Look, 10 years ago I was down and out, right? I never ever thought I would get my life together.
“I never ever thought I would rectify myself for what happened to me and get myself back on my feet again. And then here I am, just over a decade later, picking up on the biggest writing awards on television.”
Watch his full acceptance speech below:
Richard Gadd wins writing in a limited or anthology series or movie at the 2024 #Emmys for #BabyReindeer pic.twitter.com/hWaRVdLnjk
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 16, 2024
Gadd’s co-star Jessica Gunning also won her first Emmy award tonight for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie.
She thanked Gadd in her speech saying, “I’ve tried so many times to put into words what working on Baby Reindeer meant, and I fail every time.”
“I’ll keep it simple and just say thank you for trusting me to be your Martha. I will never, ever forget her, or you this, or this. It really means a lot, so thank you Reindeer, and thank you for this [award],” she added.
Gadd won his first Emmy award tonight. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
In the months following the show’s premiere, the woman claimed to be the alleged basis for Martha, 58-year-old Fiona Harvey, sued Netflix for defamation and emotional distress.
She sought for $170 million in damages and accused Netflix and Gadd of telling ‘brutal lies’ about her to ‘attract more viewers,’ ‘make more money,’ and ‘viciously destroy’ her life.
Harvey further added that the series’ pilot episode starts with the message: “This is a true story.”
The lawsuit is set for trial next May. A Netflix spokesperson said in a statement about the suit: “We intended to defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.”
