Marlee Matlin

From Grokipedia

Marlee Beth Matlin (born August 24, 1965) is an American actress, author, and activist who became profoundly deaf at 18 months old following an illness.( She rose to prominence with her debut performance in the 1986 film Children of a Lesser God, earning the Academy Award for Best Actress and becoming the first deaf performer to win an acting Oscar, as well as the youngest woman to receive the award in that category at age 21.( Matlin has since appeared in notable television roles, including on The West Wing, and has been a vocal advocate for deaf accessibility in media, notably contributing to the expansion of closed captioning on television.(

In brief

Marlee Matlin (born August 24, 1965) is an American actress, author, and advocate. Having been deaf since 18 months of age, she is known for her acting and for her activism on behalf of deaf individuals in Hollywood and other industries. Her accolades include an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award, in addition to nominations for a British Academy Film Award and four Primetime Emmy Awards.

In 2009, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Matlin made her acting debut playing Sarah Norman in the romantic drama film Children of a Lesser God (1986), winning the Academy Award for Best Actress and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama. She is the first deaf performer to win an Academy Award, the youngest winner in the Best Actress category, and one of four women to win the award for their screen debut.