5 young actresses with disabilities who conquered the world of cinema and theater

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Although modern cinema and theater strive for diversity, people with disabilities are rarely seen on the big stage or in a popular TV series. And women with obvious differences practically do not get bright dramatic roles. But young modern actresses with disabilities prove that talent, perseverance and support of loved ones work wonders …

Sara Gordy

Sarah Gordy owes her interest to the theater to her mother - she, so that her daughters do not distract her from household chores, invited them to play funny scenes. During her school years, Gordy attended a theater club. But getting a job in this area was not easy. Projects for people with Down syndrome … they refused her with the words: "You are too talented, you will find a role anywhere." Gordy began her cinematic and theatrical career back in 2000, opening the way for actresses with such characteristics to the screen. Her most famous dramatic role is Lady Pamela Holland in Up the Downstairs, and she also starred in Call the Midwife and The A Word, where she tried on a scarlet wedding dress.

Sarah plays women with Down syndrome, and she is horrified by the fate of heroines, rejected by society, survivors of poverty, violence and bullying. Gordy is an Ambassador for the Royal Society of Mencap for the social adaptation of people with disabilities. Sarah Gordy is the owner of not only theater and film awards, but also … the Order of the British Empire.

Jamie Brewer

Like Sarah Gordy, Jamie Brewer is an actress with Down syndrome. She began to participate in theatrical performances in her school years - and by the way, she studied at a completely ordinary school. It was very difficult for Brewer to memorize her lines, and now she uses her own memorization system, developed from a combination of existing techniques. Starting with theatrical roles, Jamie made her screen debut in 2011, in the first season of American Horror Story, where she played the touching and innocent Adelaide Langdon. In the fourth season, dedicated to the creepy freak show, Jamie tried on the role of the demonic doll Marjorie, who controls the life of a ventriloquist, in the anti-Trump season called "Cult" she played a colleague of Valerie Solance - Heddu. But, perhaps, the key role in Brewer's career remains the clairvoyant Nan in the "witch" seasons of the same "American Horror Story", the constant companion of Baron Saturday.

Brewer has several theatrical awards, she has starred and performed on stage, participates in talk shows and is involved in social activities. For example, as early as nineteen years old, she organized a campaign to remove the term "mentally retarded" from use in official records of the state of Texas (and got it!). In 2010, she published the book "I am with you", where she collected stories of people with Down syndrome.

Francesca Mills

The charming and ruthless Cherry surviving in the slums of London won the hearts of fans of the series Courtesans. This is the first major work of actress and dancer Francesca Mills on the screen - before that she appeared in a cameo role in the movie "The Model Male". Francesca's height is 112 centimeters, and for a long time the world of cinema practically did not offer significant roles for women of such parameters.

But the theater world turned out to be much more supportive - and now behind Francesca's back there are many vivid images in theatrical performances. She first appeared on stage in 2006 in the Christmas production of Oliver Twist (New Vic Theater in Staffordshire). This was followed by roles in the performances "The Wizard of Oz", "Arabian Nights" and "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." Mills has starred in experimental productions based on plays by Shakespeare, Gogol, Rostand and Miller. Theatrical critics call her the best British actress of the young generation. Francesca actively uses Instagram and Twitter, delighting fans with her cheerful photos.

Milli Shapiro

Probably, Ari Asta's film "Reincarnation" would have attracted half the attention to itself, if not for the peculiar young actress in the role of Charlie. And the play of the young Milli Shapiro fascinated, shocked and repulsed at the same time, only intensifying the depressing atmosphere of the film. Film critics immediately called "Reincarnation" the main horror of the current century, and the image of Charlie - "the creepiest child of cinema" along with the characters of "The Omen" and "The Ring". And, of course, after the premiere, many wondered what was the reason for the girl's peculiar appearance.

In Milli Shapiro, clavicular-cranial dysostosis is a feature of the skeletal structure, in which there are no clavicles, and other bones do not develop correctly. Millie's “colleague” by illness is the star of the TV series Stranger Things, Gaten Matarazzo. Millie is a Grammy nominee and a Tony Award winner for her role in the Broadway production of Matilda Wormwood. Together with her sister, Millie held a series of anti-bullying charity concerts and recorded a studio album. Millie is successful and in demand, but she also finds time for entertainment. She is a famous cosplayer and a fan of "Harry Potter" (though she likes Draco Malfoy more).

Millicent Simmonds

Young Millicent Simmonds is the gem of A Quiet Place. The girl is hard of hearing, and the director of the film, John Krasinski, does not get tired of repeating words of gratitude to her. It was thanks to Millicent that sign language dialogues appeared in the film. She was born into a large family and lost her hearing due to complications from an overdose of drugs.

Despite the hearing implant, Simmonds perceives very little auditory information, and her primary language is American Sign. She hopes that the success of A Quiet Place and its sequel will help popularize sign language among hearing-impaired people so that hearing impaired people can feel more connected to society.