Meet Cherylee Houston, the
latest addition to the cast of Coronation
Street, a hugely popular soap opera in the UK that’s been on the
air for over 40 years. Cherylee, 36, has severe Joint
Hypermobility Syndrome, a condition that makes joints in the body
more flexible than they should be, leading to strains, dislocations, and
muscle fatigue, hence her using her interesting-looking European power
wheelchair (why do their chairs over there look so different anyways?).
Not surprisingly, the hiring of Cherylee as a regular cast member on
such a popular TV show is a big deal. Huge. “I'm really excited and well
chuffed to be joining the show. I grew up with Coronation Street and I
can't wait to get started.” Her first episode premiered April 16th. She
will be playing “the new girl Izzy,” a firebrand young thing who’s not
afraid to give a thorough tongue lashing to the other strong female
characters on the show.
“She's attracted to bad boys and, due to her own messy romantic history,
she's become something of a heartbreaker. And when we meet her family,
we realize her troubled background has played a large part in shaping
this complicated young woman,” said a spokesperson for the show.
Some disabled advocates are
a bit annoyed however that Cherylee’s character, as well as David
Proud (another wheelchair-using actor) on Eastenders, are both playing
characters that are either annoying or angry/vengeful. Is this all
actors with disabilities seem to be good for in able-bodied casting
agents’ minds? Will these roles promote negative stereotypes? Can’t
someone in a wheelchair play a well adjusted and happy individual? Or should we as people with disabilities stop complaining and just take whatever we get? (answer: hells no)
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