Academy Award Winning Actor/Producer/Director, Activist and Motivational Speaker
People and Culture
Marlee is an Academy Award-winning actress, author, and advocate. A recipient of numerous accolades, including an Oscar, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award, she has also earned nominations for a BAFTA Award and four Primetime Emmy Awards. Deaf since 18 months of age, Matlin made her breakthrough acting debut as Sarah Norman in Children of a Lesser God (1986), earning the Academy Award for Best Actress. She remains the first deaf performer to win an Oscar and the youngest recipient ever in the Best Actress category. Throughout her acclaimed career, Matlin has been a leading voice for disability representation, accessibility, and inclusion in entertainment, inspiring audiences worldwide through her groundbreaking achievements and advocacy.
