why is it the case that able bodied actors or acctresses play parts of disabled peope?

Question

am sure there disabled people out there who would love the oppertunity to appear on screen .........

Answer 1

the able bodied actors always get an acadamy award for it. The disabled actors dont ever win an award. Etc. forest gump, I am Sam winnona ryder . the guy from Simson Birch never worked again. Tim Burton did not even use little people to play a part that was made for them. He used one little person and just CGI the rest and made him even smaller. There should be a site for disabled actors.

Answer 2

Yes I am also sure there are many disabled actors who could play those roles, but the roles of disabled people are usually the main part of the movie and the producers and directors have in mind to have the best actors they can afford first. They know the best actors will be able to play their disabled roles well, thus the fact that they are disabled is a secondary issue to having the best available actor. For example Daniel Day Lewis in "My left foot".

Answer 3

I would think that the main problem is a practical one in that there are not so many roles involving disabled people so the availability of acting jobs for a disabled person would be limited and therefore the acting profession would have limited appeal for someone who is disabled. This must mean that the number of disabled people training in drama schools must be very limited meaning that the for someone casting a play with a disabled character would have very limited selection of available actors with that particular disability. A prime example must be the two downs syndrome actors who where in and episode of Touch of Frost. The were fine for that role but they are hardly going to be cast to play Tarzan and Jane or Romeo and Juliet so their available work is limited

Answer 4

I think a lot of people feel uncomfortable seeing a 'real' disabled person acting on TV or in the movies. There are a few, but unless the public is made aware of the disability, most people don't know. The actor on CSI who does the autopsies is a double amputee. There are/were many actors and comics who suffered from epilepsy (Bud Abbott of Abbott and Costello). There are also many hearing impaired theatre companies, which you probably know about. (I had a blind friend in Boston who did musicals and opera, no kidding!)

Answer 5

There are a few. Marlee Martin (Children of a Lesser God) and Deanne Bray (Sue Thomas FBI) are both Deaf and played Deafcharacters.

But Hollywood still is throughly inculcated with the cultural myths that people with disabillities are helpless or incompetant--as evidenced by their deplorable award of "Best Picture" to "Million-Dollar Baby"--a film that displays all the worst (and false) stereotypes of the disabled. Not surprising--despite being an admitted anti-disability rights figure, the producer, Clint Eastwood continues to be honored--even for his deliberate stereotyping of persons with disabilities.

Answer 6

Acting is well acting. Acting is taking on the persona of another person or character. Actors are trained to do it well. There are differently abled actors out there.

Answer 7

But then they would not be acting and does that mean that every time someone is a particular age the actor should be the same etc etc.

Answer 8

You shouldn't settle for potentially second-rate acting just because they have the disability.

Answer 9

I think that is a great idea, and the disabled should campaign for it. I for one would sign their petition. Very good question.