Marlee Matlin is an icon, a trailblazer who shattered barriers when she became the first deaf actress to win an Academy Award for Children of a Lesser God in 1987. For decades, she remained the only deaf performer with this distinction until Troy Kotsur’s win for CODA in 2022. Now, a new documentary, “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore,” offers an intimate and unflinching look at her life journey, revealing the prejudice and loneliness she faced despite her groundbreaking success.
Directed by Matlin’s close friend, deaf actress Shoshannah Stern, the film benefits from the trust and candor between the two women. Notably, the documentary largely avoids conventional voiceovers, instead placing American Sign Language (ASL) front and center with open captions, preserving the authenticity of Matlin’s voice and offering an immersive experience for both deaf and hearing audiences. Stern, for whom Matlin was a childhood inspiration, was chosen by Matlin to direct, marking Stern’s feature debut. The film’s title itself is inspired by Matlin’s emotional sign backstage after Kotsur’s historic win.
An Unvarnished Look at Fame and Struggle
While many celebrity documentaries can feel like carefully managed retrospectives, “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore” is marked by Matlin’s striking frankness. She speaks openly about the complex period after her sudden rise to stardom at just 21. Despite outward success, she recounts feeling profound isolation and navigating a world that often treated deaf people as second-class citizens.
This sense of being set apart wasn’t just from the hearing world, but at times, from the deaf community as well. Matlin candidly discusses the intense and complex relationship with her Children of a Lesser God co-star, William Hurt, acknowledging the abusive aspects of the dynamic at a time when she was young and didn’t fully understand domestic violence. (Hurt issued a public apology in 2009). She also addresses her struggles with addiction, citing entering rehab as a critical turning point where she “grew up very quickly.” The film also highlights how clear anti-deaf bias in the media, demonstrated through pointed archival clips, impacted her public presentation and personal battles.
Navigating Hollywood’s Deaf Representation Gap
A central theme explored in the documentary and Matlin’s broader career is the persistent lack of authentic deaf representation in Hollywood. Despite Matlin’s historic breakthrough over 35 years ago and a career that includes roles in The West Wing and CODA, the film argues that the industry has largely failed to create consistent opportunities for deaf actors and professionals. Matlin points out the “danger” when people believe one significant story, like Children of a Lesser God, is sufficient, placing an unfair burden on a single film to represent an entire community for decades.
The documentary even offers a critical perspective on Children of a Lesser God itself, noting problematic elements such as the portrayal of the hearing character as a “savior” figure. Matlin and Stern highlight that the film was primarily made for a hearing audience, not a deaf one.
Matlin’s experiences with prejudice in the industry are not confined to her early years. Over a 34-year career, she has consistently faced discrimination, recounting instances where her suggestions for deaf roles were dismissed or where she felt like the “only Deaf person” on set, relying constantly on an interpreter which hindered casual social connection. This contrasts sharply with the inclusive and accessible environment created on the set of CODA, a film that featured multiple deaf lead actors and made unprecedented efforts to use ASL on set and adapt production design for visual communication.
Advocacy, Support, and Looking Forward
Beyond her acting, the film highlights Matlin’s powerful role as an advocate for the deaf community and accessibility. Her activism includes participating in the pivotal 1988 Gallaudet University “Deaf President Now” protest, where her Nightline debate contributed to the resignation of the hearing president appointed to the deaf university. She has also championed causes like FCC adoption of closed captioning. Matlin stresses the need for systemic change within Hollywood, advocating for hiring deaf people in all roles on set, not just as actors, and calling for allies to help deaf professionals showcase their craft.
The documentary also touches on significant supportive relationships in Matlin’s life, such as her long-standing bond with Henry Winkler, whom she describes as a “father figure.” Her marriage to Kevin Grandalski is also mentioned.
Following its premieres at festivals like Sundance and SXSW, “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore” is set for a theatrical release on June 20 by Kino Lorber, with subsequent availability on digital platforms and for educational distribution (exclusively on Kanopy). The film incorporates historical context on disability rights and deaf education practices, adding depth to Matlin’s personal narrative.
While Matlin remains a celebrated figure, Director Shoshannah Stern points out a surprising reality: Matlin hasn’t received any acting offers since her acclaimed role in CODA. Stern suggests that Matlin’s “larger than life” public persona may inadvertently lead people to overlook her versatility. Stern emphasizes that Matlin “needs work” and is constantly “hustling,” highlighting her capability for a wide range of comedic, dramatic, and hosting roles. Matlin herself is also exploring aspirations in directing, signaling a future beyond performing.
Ultimately, “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore” serves as both a comprehensive tribute and a bittersweet corrective, detailing Matlin’s groundbreaking achievements while shining a necessary light on the persistent challenges she has faced. It’s a powerful portrait of resilience, advocacy, and the ongoing fight for authentic representation and true accessibility in Hollywood and beyond.
