Marlee Matlin – Deaf Actress, Cultural Icon Essay Example

align="justify">Marlee's parents faced challenges when seeking help from medical professionals. These experts suggested sending Marlee to a far-away school for deaf children, but her parents strongly opposed this idea because they didn't want Marlee to be treated differently just because she was deaf. They continued their search for a school that would accept Marlee without excluding or labeling her as disabled. Finally, they discovered a school that offered support services for deaf students within a regular curriculum, alongside hearing classmates.

Marlee excelled academically at Hersey High School, where she had the opportunity to fully immerse herself in both Deaf and hearing cultures due to the diverse student population. Throughout her life, Marlee has always been passionate about seeking attention, which she ultimately found through acting. However, her love for acting began during her childhood. At the age of 7, she joined a summer camp that was not specifically designed for deaf children but did have some attendees who were deaf. One day, a camp counselor approached her and asked if she could use sign language to perform the songs while the other children sang them around a campfire.

Marlee agreed to participate and the reactions of the other children sparked excitement. They all expressed joy, support, and enthusiasm for Marlee’s performance, which she enjoyed and desired more of. Marlee shared her camp experience with her mother, who then brought her to the International Center for Deafness and the Arts. This center provided opportunities for both hearing and deaf children to engage in different programs and activities together. At this center, Marlee auditioned for a role in their production of the Wizard of Oz. Due to

her personality aligning closely with that of Dorothy, she was chosen as the only suitable character for her.

After graduating from college with a degree in Criminal Justice, she pursued her acting career in the Midwest. It was during one of her performances that she met Henry Winkler, who would become her mentor. Despite his fame, she approached him and expressed her desire to pursue acting. He encouraged her and instilled in her the belief that she could achieve anything in life. Little did he know that his words would have a profound impact on her future. At 21 years old, she made history by becoming the first Deaf actress to win an Academy Award for Best Actress. Her groundbreaking portrayal of 'Sarah' in the 1986 film "Children of a Lesser God" earned her this prestigious award. Marlee Matlin not only became the first Deaf actress to receive an Oscar but also became the youngest recipient of this honor and one of just four actresses to achieve it with their debut role.

Marlee Matlin has made a significant impact on the entertainment industry and the global community over a period of twenty years. Her achievements and influential presence have garnered worldwide attention. She has played leading roles in well-regarded films like "What the Bleep Do We Know?" and "Sweet Nothing In My Ear". Additionally, she has been a consistent presence on popular television shows such as "The West Wing" and "The L Word". Marlee's dedication to inspiring others is evident in her collaboration on a series of empowering books for teenage girls titled "Deaf Child Crossing", "Nobody's Perfect", and "Leading Ladies".

Marlee's autobiography, titled "I'll

Scream Later," was published in April 2009. In the book, she shares intimate details about her two-year abusive relationship with William Hurt, her battle with drug addiction, her powerful turning point, and her efforts to rebuild trust with the Deaf community following an Oscar presentation that offended many of its members. Marlee also appeared in the PBS documentary "Through Deaf Eyes" and in "Baby Wordsworth," which is part of the "Baby Einstein" series, where she taught sign language to babies and young children.

Being the mother of four children is a remarkable accomplishment, and this woman takes immense pride in that role. She has devoted her life to fostering connections between the Deaf and hearing communities on a global scale, including within the United States. It comes as no surprise that I deeply admire her, considering she has conquered numerous challenges and barriers to achieve extraordinary accomplishments such as winning an Academy Award. Her exceptional journey serves as a source of inspiration for me and countless others around the world.