“A brilliant deaf woman should play that role. I think you shouldn’t be too greedy,” said Jameela Jamil, who has spent years advocating for gender equality and equal opportunities.
Have you seen The Good Place? First of all, if you haven’t, you need to start right away because it’s one of the best comedy series in recent years—and it’s on Netflix. And if you have seen it, then you already know how great Jameela Jamil is.
Even if you haven’t watched the show, you should know how amazing Jameela Jamil is—she really is incredible, and above all, a great role model.
For example, Jameela was offered the role of a deaf woman and turned it down because she didn’t want to take opportunities away from people who are actually deaf.
“I said it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to take on that role and that they should find a brilliant deaf woman to play it. I think you have to make those choices and not be too greedy, and make space instead of taking space.
I don’t want to be part of the erasure.”
—Jameela Jamil to AP.
In fact, Jameela was born partially deaf, but over the years she fully regained her hearing, which makes it even more powerful that she turned down the role so as not to take opportunities away from others.
Because this is something that happens a lot in Hollywood—actors playing roles that don’t belong to them.
Yes, it’s acting, and it’s normal for actors to portray people they aren’t in real life. But it’s also important to give space to people with different disabilities to show their talent.
Jameela has spent years fighting against the stereotypes imposed by Hollywood and the fashion industry on women, pushing back against the idea that if we’re not perfectly thin, we’re somehow unacceptable.
She advocates for loving our bodies no matter what we look like and for the rights of all people.
I could spend all day talking about the wonderful things Jameela does, because she truly is a role model for young people today—and we need many more people like her.