nPostednAugust 24, 2013
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MarleenMatlin is an accomplished actress and author who just happens to bendeaf.
MarleenMatlin is an accomplished actress and author who just happens to bendeaf.n
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nShenis the first and so far only deaf performer ever to win an AcademynAward—and she won THE biggie: Best Actress in a Leading Role. Shenis also the youngest woman ever to win this coveted BestnActress/leading role Oscar!
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n(I know, it seems like Jennifer Lawrence would have been the youngest—but Lawrence was 22 when she won in 2013, and Matlin was only 21 when she won in 1987!)
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nMatlin has also won a Golden Globe and several nominations for Golden Globes Emmys.
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Innher Oscar-winning role, Matlin’s deafness was an important part ofnthe story. The movie Children of a Lesser God is about twonemployees of a school for the deaf. Matlin played a deaf janitor whonfalls for a hearing speech teacher (who also falls for her); theirnromance is made difficult by their different feelings about deafnessnand speech. When Matlin won the Oscar for this role, she gave her acceptance speech in sign,nwith an interpreter giving voice to her heartfelt words.
Innher Oscar-winning role, Matlin’s deafness was an important part ofnthe story. The movie Children of a Lesser God is about twonemployees of a school for the deaf. Matlin played a deaf janitor whonfalls for a hearing speech teacher (who also falls for her); theirnromance is made difficult by their different feelings about deafnessnand speech. When Matlin won the Oscar for this role, she gave her acceptance speech in sign,nwith an interpreter giving voice to her heartfelt words.n
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nIronically,nMatlin’s Oscar win led to a controversy that is similar to the tension between deafness and speech in that movie. As is the custom for Best Actress winners, Matlin was asked to presentnthe Best Actor award at the next year’s Oscars. Some deaf people werendevastated that, after signing her introductory remarks, Matlin spokenall the names of the nominees and the name of the winner. I supposenthat those who were disappointed thought that their one chance tonhave an entire presentation in sign language was snatched away. Onnthe other hand, I thought it was brave for Matlin to voice the nominees’s names.
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nSincenthe age of 18 months, Matlin has had only 20% hearing in one ear andnno hearing in her other ear. Although she contributes her time and effort to the NationalnAssociation of the Deaf and the StarkeynHearing Foundation, Matlin does not put herself into a box labeledn“deaf.” She has played many different sorts of roles, includingnan expert pollster in the acclaimed TV drama WestnWing and an assistant D.A.nin Reasonable Doubts. Shenhas written books, worked with charities such as Easter Seals, married a police officer, and had and raised four lovelyn(hearing) children. n
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Doesnit surprise you to know that Marlee Matlin also danced in front of millions ofnpeople in the show “Dancing with the Stars”? (Remember, she cannhear a little bit, and all deaf people can feel strong beats asnvibrations, especially through the floor.)
Doesnit surprise you to know that Marlee Matlin also danced in front of millions ofnpeople in the show “Dancing with the Stars”? (Remember, she cannhear a little bit, and all deaf people can feel strong beats asnvibrations, especially through the floor.)n
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nTo the right is a picture of Matlin with her star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.
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nAlsonon this date:
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Pluto Demoted Day
Pluto Demoted Day n
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nIndependencenDay in the Ukraine
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nAnniversarynof the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius
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nPlannahead:
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nHerenare my Pinterest pages on Augustnholidays, historicalnanniversaries in August,nand Augustnbirthdays.
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest pages on Septembernholidays, historicalnanniversaries in September, and Septembernbirthdays.
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