Coronation Street star Natalie Amber has courageously revealed the shocking treatment she faced in the industry due to her disability. After becoming a wheelchair user in her mid-thirties following an accident, Natalie found herself struggling to land auditions. Despite her talent, she encountered blunt rejections and belittling attitudes. However, Natalie also praised the support she received from her co-stars. Read on to learn more!
Natalie Amber Reveals Shocking Treatment She Faced as a Wheelchair User
Actress Natalie Amber (Shelly Rossington) shared that she has faced discrimination in the industry because of her disability. Last year, her character formed a bond with Paul Foreman during his MND storyline. Let us tell you that the actress began using a wheelchair in her mid-thirties after an accident while performing.
Recently, she talked about how much harder it has been to get auditions since returning to work as a ‘disabled actor.’ the soap star described, “The attitude was horrendous, and the way they treated me was quite belittling.” She recounted being told outright at auditions that her character wouldn’t fit a wheelchair.
Reflecting on an ‘experiment’ she conducted, Natalie noted that mentioning her wheelchair led to a significant drop in audition offers, while not mentioning it resulted in more opportunities. She also shared that when she inquired about accessibility in advance, responses were often met with awkward silence.
At times, she received comments questioning whether she might get too tired to attend the audition. The ITV star also disclosed that she has faced inappropriate questions about her disability from strangers in public. She stated, “People can be unpleasant, patronising, and impatient.”
She recounted an experience at a workplace where the producer offered to provide an electric wheelchair for her role, but the director decided against it. He stated they didn’t have time and suggested she use her own wheelchair instead. Moreover, he spoke to her assistant instead of addressing her directly.
The star added, “Later on, he went: ‘You’re holding up production, you just need to hurry up.’ But at no point did anybody ask if we needed any help.” On the brighter side, she admits that her Corrie experience was positive. She highlighted that her co-stars Peter Ash and Daniel Brocklebank went ‘above and beyond’ to support her.
Despite the challenges, Natalie Amber’s story powerfully reminds us of the industry’s importance of inclusivity. For more such Coronation Street updates, stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily! We’ll have to see how teh actress’s journey impacts the entertainment world!
