I just discovered the existence of the fabulous Kelly-Marie Stewart on Google News this week. She’s Liverpool-born, 24 years old, has some of the best hair I’ve ever seen, and she stars in Britain’s (Channel 4) Hollyoaks, a popular soap opera. Oh, and she uses a wheelchair too.
Diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system (which is usually acquired from an infection, a really bad one), and the leading cause of non-trauma related paralysis, Kelly-Marie lost her ability to walk 3 years ago. She first noticed it affecting her legs when she couldn’t accelerate her car using the gas pedal. Scary.
The jury is out as to whether she’ll ever walk again, since doctors don’t know everything there is about the disease, and everyone heals from it differently (some doctors even think now that FDR had Guillain–Barré, not Polio). I once dated a guy who had it too (he contracted it from a deer bite), and had the mobility-level of a paraplegic. He never got better.
Kelly-Marie plays the character of Hayley Ramsay on Hollyoaks, the sister of Zak (a main character. He constantly frets over Hayley due to her disability). Her role on the show has received a lot of positive feedback. Check out this fun video of Kelly-Marie behind the scenes of the show. Push me faster goddamnit!
Now a part of the disability community, but still a mainstream actress, Kelly-Marie may not like being known as the “wheelchair actress,” but she is realizing a lot of good can come out of what she does: “Some people find it hard speaking to disabled people, but hopefully I am showing I am just a normal girl like all the others on the show.”
Kelly-Marie is one sexy bitch. This is her first big acting role, and I hope she gets many more.
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