Ruth Madeley on playing Judy Heumann, the activist who fought to make the world accessible
Ruth Madeley likes to think she was determined before she was born. “I think I was stubborn before I even arrived,” she says, laughing. It’s a quality the British actress, who was diagnosed with spina bifida while still in the womb, recognises in Judy Heumann, the American disability rights activist she plays in the new film Being Heumann . Heumann spent her life pushing back against the barriers…
Ruth Madeley, a British actress born with spina bifida, has been diagnosed with determination since birth. She played Judy Heumann, an American disability rights activist, in the film Being Heumann, a role that she felt a significant responsibility to fulfill. Heumann's life revolved around fighting against barriers preventing disabled individuals from participating fully in society.
Madeley discovered her own voice through years of experience as a disabled person, finding it helped in her acting. The actress spent months mastering a Brooklyn accent to better embody Heumann, who was proud and had a strong connection to her Brooklyn roots. While both women used wheelchairs, their physical experiences were different, and Madeley aimed to capture Heumann's independence in her portrayal.
Madeley hopes the film will introduce Heumann's work to those unfamiliar with it and provide a sense of connection to viewers who share similar experiences. The film, set in 1977, highlights the occupation of a federal building in San Francisco by disability rights activists demanding the implementation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Madeley, who believes disability and determination are interconnected, hopes her film will challenge perceptions surrounding disability and carry on Heumann's legacy.
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