In a bid to shake up the entertainment industry's stance on disability representation, Marissa Bode, the actress who played Nessarose Thropp in the hit musical Wicked, is calling for change. The 21% figure of disabled characters on US TV between 2016 and 2023 being played by non-disabled actors is a stark reminder that there is still much work to be done.
Bode's casting in the Wicked film was historic, marking the first time a disabled actor had taken on the role of Nessarose. However, she knows that her success sets only one precedent - more needs to be done. The Rudderman Family Foundation study found that only 21% of US TV characters with disabilities were played by disabled actors between 2016 and 2023.
A scene in the stage musical was also changed for the film adaptation to give Nessarose the ability to float after being able to walk again, a move Bode credits as an example of progress. She believes this change humanises Nessa more, adding depth to her character that she felt was lacking in the stage version.
Despite the progress made by Wicked and other productions, awareness about disability still persists in the industry. Bode attributes this to a lack of education surrounding disability and the type of language used when referring to it. To combat this, she suggests seeking out more information on disability and encouraging others to do so as well.
For Bode, it's not just about being cast in roles but also about telling her own story. "I think it's really important that we are telling our own stories a lot of the time," she says, encouraging producers to hire and cast disabled actors, writers, and crew members. A community of talented individuals is out there, waiting to be tapped into.
The film industry must take note of Bode's words, as her voice may be silenced by aggressive comments on social media but will only grow louder when the industry makes real changes to accommodate a more diverse range of stories. As she so eloquently states, "Disability is not fictional."
Bode's casting in the Wicked film was historic, marking the first time a disabled actor had taken on the role of Nessarose. However, she knows that her success sets only one precedent - more needs to be done. The Rudderman Family Foundation study found that only 21% of US TV characters with disabilities were played by disabled actors between 2016 and 2023.
A scene in the stage musical was also changed for the film adaptation to give Nessarose the ability to float after being able to walk again, a move Bode credits as an example of progress. She believes this change humanises Nessa more, adding depth to her character that she felt was lacking in the stage version.
Despite the progress made by Wicked and other productions, awareness about disability still persists in the industry. Bode attributes this to a lack of education surrounding disability and the type of language used when referring to it. To combat this, she suggests seeking out more information on disability and encouraging others to do so as well.
For Bode, it's not just about being cast in roles but also about telling her own story. "I think it's really important that we are telling our own stories a lot of the time," she says, encouraging producers to hire and cast disabled actors, writers, and crew members. A community of talented individuals is out there, waiting to be tapped into.
The film industry must take note of Bode's words, as her voice may be silenced by aggressive comments on social media but will only grow louder when the industry makes real changes to accommodate a more diverse range of stories. As she so eloquently states, "Disability is not fictional."
I mean, it's sick that 21% of disabled characters on US TV were still played by non-disabled actors between 2016 and 2023. It's a total shame, fam. I think the fact that Wicked was able to make some progress, like changing that scene with Nessarose floating, is a good start. But we need more! 
We need more disabled voices, more diverse stories, and more education about disability in the industry.
It's not just about being cast in roles, it's about sharing our experiences and perspectives with the world. And I think we can all learn from each other if we take the time to understand and appreciate different abilities.
. And hey, even if someone gives us grief on social media, we just tune them out and keep shining our light 
. Disability is not fictional, and it's time we start seeing ourselves in every corner of the entertainment industry 
.
The thing that really gets my goat is how underutilized disabled actors are in this industry 
. I mean, come on, 21% is NOT a good ratio, especially when you consider the amount of money and resources being spent on these productions 
.
is so spot on. If we can't even get the basics right when it comes to disability representation, how can we expect to tell more nuanced stories? 
It's not just about casting disabled actors, but also giving them opportunities to write and create their own content too 
.
. Disabled individuals have so much to offer, from innovative ideas to real-life experiences that can enrich our stories 
. It's time for the industry to take notice and make some meaningful changes 
. The fact that Marissa Bode is being silenced on social media just highlights how far we still have to go 
.
21% is still just 1 in 5 and it's a numbers game that needs to change, we need to start seeing more disabled actors and creatives behind the scenes too 
not just on screen. Marissa Bode is spot on with her message of self-representation, let's hear more from disabled voices 
so like Marissa Bode is totally right! 21% is still super low for disabled characters on TV 
.
. And btw, changing the stage musical scene from Wicked to make Nessarose's ability to float more believable is a good move 
! But we can't just stop at that - we need systemic change 
And yeah, Bode gives credit for progress when they changed the scene where Nessarose can walk again, but at the end of the day, it's still not about getting one person a role, it's about making changes to the whole system.
. and let's not forget that there are so many talented disabled creatives out there who aren't getting a foot in the door, it's like, what about our stories too? 
just saw this thread and I'm totally blown away 
. Did you know that in 2023, there were over 100 TV shows with disabled characters on Netflix alone? 
That's like 22% of their entire lineup! But here's the thing - only about 2-3% of those characters were played by disabled actors 
. Like, what even is going on?! We need more representation, trust me 
. And btw, did you know that in 2020, disability employment rates reached a 25-year high of 37.4%? 
It's all about inclusion and accessibility now! 
. I'm all for change, but let's be real, Marissa Bode is basically setting the bar super high here 
. Like, she's already broken the mold by playing Nessarose, now it's on us to keep pushing forward 
. The industry needs to step up its game and start hiring more diverse talent, not just because it's trendy but because it's a step towards inclusivity 
. I think it's amazing that there was a change in the Wicked film adaptation to make Nessarose more humanised... I mean, who doesn't love watching someone walk again? It shows that even small changes can add depth to characters! But seriously, 21% is still super low and I'm with Marissa on this - we need to see more disabled actors in lead roles 
. Can we get more productions like Wicked, though? That musical was LIFE.CHANGING 
. We need to give credit where credit is due, but also acknowledge that progress doesn't happen overnight.