Screentime
Hollywood’s Diversity Push Has Left Out One Important Group
‘Trying to find an authentically played disabled character on screen is like trying to find Waldo.’
Photographer: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
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Over the years, Marilee Talkington, who is legally blind, has repeatedly auditioned for TV shows featuring a character who is blind. But several times, the same thing happened. The part went to an actress who was not blind.
“It’s a punch to the gut,” she said. “If you’re white and playing a person of color, do you know how offensive that is? We need to look at disability the same way.”