LGBTQ+ actors including Jessica Gunning, Richard Gadd and Jodie Foster were among the big winners at the 2024 Emmy Awards. The ceremony took place in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 15, marking its 76th edition.

Baby Reindeer emerged victorious from four out of its 11 nominated categories, with three of the awards going to the show’s creator and star Richard Gadd. He was recognised as Outstanding Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, beating out other queer stars Matt Bomer, Tom Hollander and Ireland’s own Andrew Scott. He also won an award for Outstanding Writing and Baby Reindeer was crowned Best Limited or Anthology Series.

“Ten years ago, I was down and out. I never ever thought I’d get my life together. I never ever thought I’d be able to rectify myself for what happened to me and get myself back on my feet again,” Gadd said in his acceptance speech.

“And then here I am, just over a decade later, picking up one of the biggest writing awards in television. I don’t mean that to sound arrogant. I mean it as encouragement for anyone who’s going through a difficult time right now to persevere.”

 

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Baby Reindeer’s Jessica Gunning also collected a trophy for her role in the Netflix hit. She was recognised as Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, beating out her trans co-star Nava Mau and fellow queer nominees Lily Gladstone and Kali Ries. 

In her speech, Gunning said she felt like she was dreaming, adding that she is “incredibly proud” to have been part of the show.

“I just would love to say a huge thank you to everybody who let me be. My biggest thanks, though, has to go to Mr Richard Gadd. I’ve tried so many times to put into words what working on Baby Reindeer meant to me, and I fail every time, so I’m gonna sing – no,” she joked.

“I’ll keep it simple: thank you for trusting me to be your Martha. I will never ever forget her or you, or all this.”

Jessica Gunning accepts the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series for ‘BABY REINDEER’ pic.twitter.com/C3th1dCrCb

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) September 16, 2024

Baby Reindeer’s four awards made it one of the most successful shows of the evening alongside titles like Shōgun and The Bear.

Elsewhere, Jodie Foster won her first-ever Emmy for her work on True Detective: Night Country. She was recognised as Best Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, kissing her wife Alexandra Hedison when the results were announced.

In her acceptance speech, Foster said: “This is an incredibly emotional moment for me because True Detective: Night Country was such a magical experience.”

The actor gave a shoutout to the show’s cast and crew, “And mostly the indegenous people, the Inupiat and Inuit people of northern Alaska.

“They just told us their stories and allowed us to listen, and that was a blessing. It was love, love, love, and when you feel that, something amazing happens that’s deep and wonderful and is older than this place and this time.”

Jodi Foster Thanks Indigenous People For Sharing Their Stories With ‘True Detective: Night Country’ In Her First Ever Emmy Win #Emmys | https://t.co/2PTbsJvnKZ pic.twitter.com/w3jR21LpSS

— Deadline (@DEADLINE) September 16, 2024

The Traitors, hosted by bi icon Alan Cumming, collected the award for Oustanding Reality Competition Program, beating out RuPaul’s Drag Race, among others. Last week, Cumming also ended RuPaul’s reign in the hosting category of the Creative Arts Emmys, which the drag powerhouse had won every year since 2016.

 

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Finally, gay writer, producer and director Greg Berlanti accepted the Governors Award at the 2024 Emmys, which recognises those who make a “profound, transformational and long-lasting contribution to television”. 

“I wanted to be a part of television even before I knew that was possible,” Berlanti expressed. “Now, there wasn’t a lot of gay characters on television back then, and I was a closeted gay kid, and it’s hard to describe how lonely that was at the time.”

With the AIDS crisis came more visibility, as Berlanti explained: “Too many were dying, but they were also in the streets. Men holding hands with other men, marching and fighting for their lives — and they gave me hope that I might one day have their courage to come out and share my truth with the world.”

And that he did, eventually becoming a champion for LGBTQ+ stories on screen, including in shows like Brothers & Sisters, Arrow and Riverdale.

For the full list 2024 Emmy Award winners, click here.