Why are disabled actors ignored when it comes to roles like the Elephant Man? | Frances Ryan

The BBC’s casting of a non-disabled actor in its remake shows how normalised exclusion is: we need to widen the talent poolThe BBC has been widely criticised over its decision to cast a non-disabled person in its remake of The Elephant Man. The role of Joseph Merrick – who had severe physical deformities – will be played by the Stranger Things actor Charlie Heaton. Notably, actor Adam Pearson – who has neurofibromatosis type 1, a condition which was once thought to affect Merrick – has said he wasn’t even given the opportunity to audition. As Pearson told LBC, it’s part of a culture of exclusion for disabled actors. “It’s a systemic problem, not only in the BBC but industry-wide.”From Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man to Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Everything, it’s routine for non-disabled actors to play disabled characters, often gaining critical acclaim in the process. At best, it takes work and exposure from talented disabled actors and further adds to an arts and culture that pushes disability representation – much like race, sex and class – to the sidelines. At worst, it sees non-disabled actors mimic the characteristics of a minority group without any involvement from the community it depicts. Continue reading…
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