- The young British Noah Matthews Matofsky, 15, made history by being the first actor with Down Syndrome to star in a Disney film.
- In the film Peter Pan & Wendy, soon to be released, he plays Slightly, the leader of the Lost Boys.
- While in 1960 the life expectancy of patients with this condition was barely 10 years, today it is 65 years.
The modern world is not only marked by technological advances but also by a greater open-mindedness. We are living in times in which inclusion can be observed in all areas, especially in the media. All this led to Disney to make a momentous decision and for the first time an actor with Down Syndrome is the protagonist of one of his films.
In this sense, it is worth remembering that the study created by walt disney was the leader in this field for many decades. It was founded in 1923, which is why it is precisely in the middle of its first centenary of existence. To date it is one of the most important film production houses in the world.
Within its catalog, the films starring women in danger who need to be saved by princes stand out. In addition, in most of his animations, people with thin and “perfect” bodies stand out. This vision prevailed for a long time although it has been transformed over the years.
New Disney movie stars an actor with Down syndrome
All of the above leads to a historical fact that confirms the openness that exists in today’s world. It is necessary to talk about the film Peter Pan & Wendydirected by David Lowery and which is about to be released. It is a live action version of the classic story written by the playwright James Matthew Barrie.
Peter Pan & Wendy will be the first Disney movie to have an actor with Down syndrome among its main characters ❤️
Noah Matthews Matofsky will play Slightly, the leader of the ‘Lost Boys’ of Never Land.
💬 This makes me happy about the INCLUSION pic.twitter.com/YyychJMGA9
— Ⓛⓐ Ⓑⓞⓝⓘⓣⓐ (@la_bonitasv) April 20, 2023
The story focuses on Peter Pan, who is a child who flies and does not want to grow up. He also recounts his adventures in Neverland with the brothers Wendy, John and Michael Darling, as well as his confrontation with the Captain Hook.
It is a story that has been told many times and in different formats. What makes this new one different Disney movie is that for the first time one of the protagonists is an actor with Down Syndrome. His name is Noah Matthews Matofskywho plays Slightly, the leader of The missing child.
Noah Matthews Matofsky, an actor who breaks paradigms
The film has not yet been released, but the 15-year-old has already achieved something historic. According to the interviews he has offered, it is a dream come true. When he was younger he always dreamed of being an actor although he thought it was an impossible goal because of his condition.
Yara Shahidi stars in ‘Peter Pan & Wendy’ as the first Black actor to portray Tinker Bell. The Disney+ live-action movie also features girls, as well as Noah Matthews Matofsky, an actor with Down’s Syndrome, as members of the Lost Boys https://t.co/R8YLlnEf6x pic.twitter.com/1ssQGRAUmz
— Reuters (@Reuters) April 21, 2023
Despite the adversities and negative comments, he never allowed himself to be defeated. Instead, she prepared herself and enrolled in acting classes until she finally got this big break. She also hopes that she is not the only one because her intention is to build a fruitful career in this medium.
Down syndrome in Mexico
In our country It is estimated that one in 700 newborns have this condition. With this in mind, it is estimated that there are just over 220,000 people with this syndrome, of which between 50 and 60 percent have some degree of cardiovascular damage.
So far, the specific cause of the syndrome is unknown; however, it is related to factors such as pregnancy after the age of 35, miscarriage, or a family history of chromosomopathy.
For its part, thanks to the development of technology, important advances have been made. Although the Down’s Syndrome There is no cure if the life expectancy of patients has been completely improved because until 1960 it was barely 10 years. Instead, at present it has increased until reaching 65 years. Among the keys are timely medical care, permanent follow-up and attending to the comorbidities of the patients.
Also read:
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Down syndrome: This is the life expectancy in Mexico
Mattel creates the first Barbie with Down Syndrome and this is what it looks like