Bullseye with Jesse Thorn Marlee Matlin
Aug 19, 2025
Marlee Matlin, the acclaimed actor and activist, talks passionately about her groundbreaking career and advocacy for the deaf community. She shares insights from her documentary, discussing the importance of authentic representation in media. Marlee highlights the unique nuances of humor in American Sign Language and addresses challenges deaf actors face in Hollywood. With her interpreter Jack, they explore the deep trust built through years of collaboration. This engaging conversation showcases Marlee's journey, struggles, and triumphs, infusing humor and heart throughout.
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Breakout Oscar Moment Launched A Career
- Marlee Matlin won the 1987 Oscar for Children of a Lesser God at age 20 and became the first deaf Academy Award winner.
- That early success launched a lifelong career rather than a brief spotlight, leading to decades of TV and film work.
Pick A Director Who Knows Your Experience
- Request a director who genuinely understands your lived experience to make personal storytelling easier and more authentic.
- Marlee insisted a deaf woman direct her documentary so she wouldn't have to over-explain cultural details.
ASL Conversation Structure Can Appear Chaotic
- ASL conversations are free-form and overlapping, which looks chaotic to hearing TV hosts but reflects authentic Deaf communication.
- That structural difference explains why interpreters and hosts sometimes struggle on live shows.