SuperHuman - Marlee Matlin

I hope I inspire people who hear. Hearing people have the ability
​ to remove the barriers that prevent deaf people from achieving their dreams.

Marlee Matlin is a highly successful American actress, author and philanthropist, who has won multiple prestigious awards,  including a Golden Globe as a result of her work in TV and film, as well as 4 Emmys, and many more nominations. ​

I have made the choices that work for me.
I know I cannot please everyone, and that’s fine.

She has been deaf since she was 18 months old, probably due to illnesses and severe fevers. Her love of acting began at seven years old, when she appeared as Dorothy in a production of the Wizard of Oz, put on by the ICODA (International Centre on Deafness and the Arts) children’s theatre group. ​

Through this, Matlin was discovered by a talent scout. This soon led to her appearing in her film debut in Children of a Lesser God. This won her a Golden Globe. Throughout her career, Matlin starred in and appeared in many different films, TV shows, adverts, music videos and much more, and became very successful because of this. ​

In 2002, she published her first ever novel, Deaf Child Crossing. This was somewhat inspired by her own childhood. The sequel, Nobody’s Perfect, was adapted to become a stage production. ​

In 2009, she released her autobiography, I’ll Scream Later, in which she relates a time in her life affected by drug abuse, and her subsequent admittance into rehab, as well as a two year abusive relationship, and abuse she suffered as a child.

She has been involved in a variety of charities and similar organisations, including Easter Seals, Foundation for Children Affected by AIDS, USF Arts, and more. She earned an honorary Doctorate of Human Letters from the university of Gallaudat in 1987, and in 2007, was promoted to become a member of the board of trustees.

She also has a unique and refreshing sense of humour about her deafness.

The only thing I can’t do is hear.

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Marlee Matlin is also plays a very prominent role in a fantastic charity called National Association of the Deaf.
​
Check out the link below to find out about the great ways the charity supports deaf people today…
https://www.nad.org