Academy Awards and Images of Physical Disability
- Share via
We in the disability community were euphoric over the choice of Daniel Day-Lewis as best actor for “My Left Foot.” But our bubble was burst by Joan Collins.
In a TV interview, Collins expressed awe at the talent of Day-Lewis, a handsome actor, she said, “who could make himself look so ugly!” This remark was a slap to the 43 million disabled Americans. “Ugly,” she said of a character with cerebral palsy.
This is Hollywood; this is where images are made. If society must change its negative image of persons with disabilities, this is where it ought to start.
“Ugly” is not how a person deviates from the physical norm; ugly instead is prejudice.
LILLIBETH NAVARRO
Executive Director
Adapt Southern California
Los Angeles
The biggest entertainment stories
Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
