Close Ad

Six-Year-Old Actress Maisie Sly Teaches Us All a Lesson in Self-Belief
Maisie Sly in The Silent Child
Success Stories

Six-Year-Old Actress Maisie Sly Teaches Us All a Lesson in Self-Belief

At just six years old, Maisie Sly has earned her first acting credit in the Oscar-nominated “The Silent Child" movie. The short film has taken the festival circuit by storm, racking up 15 wins to date, including the Rhode Island International Film Festival’s Best Actress and Best Acting Award for Maisie’s incredible performance.

I wanted to show people that deaf children can do anything

-Maisie Sly


Written by former Hollyoaks star Rachel Shenton, "The Silent Child" tells the story of Libby, a profoundly deaf four-year-old girl living a life of silence and isolation in rural England. The little girl meets a social worker who teaches her sign language, giving her the gift of communication.

100 children auditioned for the role of Libby, but Shenton and director Chris Overton knew within minutes that Maisie was the right fit. Born profoundly deaf and fluent in sign language, Maisie brought a precocious understanding of Libby’s experiences and those of many people with deafness to the role. Maisie’s family moved not long before the casting, relocating 160 miles to allow Maisie to attend a school with support services for children with deafness.

Shockingly, over 78% of deaf children attend mainstream schools with no specialized support in place. This is heavily reflected in their grades, as well as their mental health and wellbeing.

- Rachel Shenton

As 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents, communication becomes a major barrier from the start. Known as one of the loneliest disabilities, deafness can bring crushing isolation to those affected –- a tragedy Shenton witnessed first-hand. Her father lived with deafness in his last two years, a side-effect of cancer treatments. The experience inspired Shenton to write the critically-acclaimed movie.

I witnessed my superhero dad for the first time seem vulnerable and I noticed how easy it was for people to leave him out.

- Rachel Shenton

But "The Silent Child" is more than just a personal story for Shenton, or a breakout role for Maisie. Both, along with Overton, consider the film a potential vehicle for change, and are hoping to raise awareness and expand the services available to people with deafness. One of their goals is to get British Sign Language taught in schools.

Hot Stories

Why Paul Walker Left His Only Daughter With Vin Diesel

Vin Diesel & Paul Walker were more than just friends, they were …

content.jwplatform.com

When the tragic news of Paul Walker's death surfaced, the world was left in shock. As one of the most beloved stars of the Fast and Furious franchise, his passing was felt deeply by fans around the globe. But perhaps the most devastating impact was felt by his daughter, Meadow Walker, who was left without a father.

Keep ReadingShow less
Life Stories
dave chappelle and wife elaine

Dave Chappelle may be one of the most popular comedians in the world, but to his wife Elaine, he's just Dave.

Chappelle had his big break with his Comedy Central Show Chappelle Show which ran from 2003 to 2005. The show was enormously popular and put Chappelle on the map. Chappelle’s Show was scheduled to have a third season after the success of the first two seasons but that never happened.

Keep ReadingShow less
Celebrities
41 Daughter Quotes That Will Touch and Melt Your Heart
daughter quotes

Having a daughter is undoubtedly a blessing. However, raising a girl with high self-esteem can be quite challenging. Between social media's filtered reality of perfect women and society's shifting expectations, parents face the daunting task of nurturing authentic self-worth in their daughters.

These carefully selected daughter quotes help provide a starting point. They're simple reminders that whatever accomplishments you may have to date, raising a daughter is probably your biggest one.

Keep ReadingShow less
Family