Laverne Cox Tears Up Celebrating Nava Mau's Historic 2024 Emmys Nomination on the Red Carpet

Mar. 15, 2025

Laverne Cox (left); Nava Mau (right).Photo:Getty(2)

Getty(2)

Laverne Coxis feeling proud at the2024 Emmys.

When Mau, 32, first stepped up to speak with Cox, theOrange is the New Blackactress became emotional as the two hugged.

“I’m supposed to keep it together, I’m the host,” Cox said, fanning her face.

Nava Mau.Frazer Harrison/Getty

Frazer Harrison/Getty

“I’m so proud of you,” she continued. “I’m so proud of you. This show is so incredible and the work that you do is so amazing.”

Cox then recognized the milestone she reached herself at the 2015 ceremony when she became the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an acting Emmy.

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“And 10 years later, I’m not the last,” she said with a smile. “You’re the fourth and you’re the first in this category.”

Laverne Cox at the 2014 Emmy Awards.Steve Granitz/WireImage

Steve Granitz/WireImage

“Yes, it’s an LGBT 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 am very proud of and ultimately I hope that we continue to get to be all that we are as trans people on screen.”

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The two then reminisced about working together four years ago on Cox’sDisclosuredocumentary, which Mau says “changed my life.”

“I walked on to that set, it was my first time being on a set of that scale, I had only ever been on a micro-budget short film set in Oakland before that. And I saw trans people that were in positions of leadership,” Mau said. “I got to sit and watch interviews of trans people talking about their lives, their histories, about their studies, about their craft. I got to see you walk in all of your grace and all of your power. I saw that I can dream bigger than what I had dreamt for myself before that. And it changed me forever.”

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In 2014, Cox became the first openly transgender person nominated in an acting category at the Emmys, thanks to her performance as Sophia Burset onOrange Is the New Black. The award for outstanding guest actress in a comedy series award ultimately went to her costar Uzo Aduba.

SeePEOPLE’s full coverageof the 76th annual Primetime Emmy Awards as they’re broadcasting live on ABC from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

source: people.com