The film industry lacks opportunities for actors and actresses with disabilities. There are multiple reasons for this; the few that come to mind include but are not a limited list. Shows and movies try to portray a disability or illness in a specific way, preferring regular cast actors. Casting directors use limited search methods and fail to find unique individuals. It is very disheartening to use their disability to cast a negative light on it. So, let’s shine our light on this situation and see if it’s possible to resolve this issue.

An interview with Adam Pearson

Mr. Pearson is a British actor who appeared in films such as A Different Man, Under the Skin, and Chained for Life. Pearson was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition neurofibromatosis, which leaves his skin covered in thousands of thick, painful tumors. In the interview, Pearson expressed his frustration with the limited role he gets due to his condition.

To quote Mr. Person, “Normally there are three kinds of roles or tropes or stereotypes, whatever vernacular one wants to use,” he explained. “There’s either the villain that because I have a disfigurement, I want to kill Batman or James Bond. Then there’s the victim, the ‘woe is me,’ small violin.” “And then there’s the hero that because I have a disfigurement but do regular dude stuff, whatever regular dude stuff is, I’m somehow braver than the average guy,” he said. Pearson is undoubtedly one of the extreme examples of an actor typecast due to his disability.

As we look at the problem the industry, value representation is the most essential part of such a discussion. While sometimes problematic, other issues with disability portrayals are breaking them down into stereotypes. The Deformed Villain, The Victim, The Hopeless Optimistic, as well as other tropes rather than their positive or negative. These themes are familiar, and though reliance on cliches can work for some types of films, whether it reflects on the actual people living with disabilities, be they actors or not, these stereotypes also have played a massive role in the popularity of disability films.

Disabled roles in the industry

When it comes to actors without disabilities typecast in roles that involve disabilities. Not only can these kinds of casting be seen as cashing in on the emotion that films dealing with disabilities tend to become, but they also are taking away the small number of roles with disabilities that exist in film. Although the pool of actors living with disabilities is relatively small compared to the industry. Many filmmakers still favor the able, attractive, and popular. Having actors with no experience or struggle with such disabilities does take the opportunity for representation and authenticity away from actors who do.

Fortunately, as the film industry grows, they are starting to understand better what people with disabilities can do and what they can work on set and in production for movies and shows. We look forward to a time when all actors get equal representation.

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https://people.com/adam-pearson-neurofibromatosis-actors-with-disabilities-8547253