Baby Reindeer star Nava Mau says the award winning Netflix show ‘healed her own wounds’ after devastating pre-transition anorexia battle fuelled by ‘self-hatred’ forced her into rehab

Baby Reindeer star Nava Mau has opened up on how acting in the hit Netflix show helped to ‘heal her own wounds’ in a candid new interview.

The actress, 32, sH๏τ to stardom when she starred as Teri in the series – an American therapist who meets lead character Donny (Richard Gadd) on a dating app.

Now, as Cosmopolitan’s latest cover star, Nava discussed ‘the shame society creates around transgender relationships’ and how she knew Richard’s real-life relationship with a trans woman was genuine love.

She recalled: ‘It was undeniable. It makes me emotional still. I just remember there was a moment reading the script for the first time, and I was like, ‘Oh, he really loved her.’

‘Donny’s love for Teri is in the form of awe, and I had never seen a trans woman represented quite in that way.

‘It was this weird, transcendental experience of it being what I needed to see, and what it did to heal my own wounds.’

Baby Reindeer star Nava Mau has opened up on how acting in the hit Netflix show helped to 'heal her own wounds' in a candid new interview

Baby Reindeer star Nava Mau has opened up on how acting in the hit Netflix show helped to ‘heal her own wounds’ in a candid new interview

The actress, 32, sH๏τ to stardom when she starred as Teri in the series - an American therapist who meets lead character Donny (Richard Gadd) on a dating app

The actress, 32, sH๏τ to stardom when she starred as Teri in the series – an American therapist who meets lead character Donny (Richard Gadd) on a dating app

The star continued: ‘There is such a fixation in society and in the media on trans people and who is dating us, and who is attracted to us, and who is even consorting with us.

‘It’s strange, because that fixation presupposes that trans people should be responsible for explaining and answering any questions and curiosities that cis people have, but it also presupposes that trans people must also have this fixation.

‘But it’s like, I’m not a curiosity to myself. We’re just living full lives, real lives, just like everyone else.’

For the cover shoot, Nava looked nothing short of incredible in a series of leggy outfits, including a black bodysuit complete with a stylish oversized leather jacket.

She further showcased her sensational figure as she slipped into a denim vest top and a racy maxi skirt, which featured a large cut out along the side.

Other ensembles included a zebra-print trench coat, a busty white mini dress, and a blue denim jacket.

Nava wore her brunette locks in loose waves and opted for a glowing palette of makeup.

Reflecting on her younger years as a transgender woman, Nava admitted that trying to enter the workforce as a trans person can be ‘soul crushing,’ and lead her to ‘crumble’.

She revealed that her struggle with being accepted by society led to anorexia and how, at 19, a rehab programme saved her life.

Now, as Cosmopolitan's latest cover star, Nava discussed 'the shame society creates around transgender relationships'

Now, as Cosmopolitan’s latest cover star, Nava discussed ‘the shame society creates around transgender relationships’

Nava said: 'Donny's love for Teri is in the form of awe, and I had never seen a trans woman represented quite in that way'

Nava said: ‘Donny’s love for Teri is in the form of awe, and I had never seen a trans woman represented quite in that way’

She recalled: 'It was undeniable. It makes me emotional still. I just remember there was a moment reading the script for the first time, and I was like, 'Oh, he really loved her'

She recalled: ‘It was undeniable. It makes me emotional still. I just remember there was a moment reading the script for the first time, and I was like, ‘Oh, he really loved her’

Nava continued: 'It was this weird, transcendental experience of it being what I needed to see, and what it did to heal my own wounds'

Nava continued: ‘It was this weird, transcendental experience of it being what I needed to see, and what it did to heal my own wounds’

The full interview can be read in the Feb/March issue of Cosmopolitan UK on sale from 14 January

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