Lisa Kelly: An actor with a bright future ahead

This week, Signature share with you more about Lisa Kelly, an actor who has worked on the hit series Sex Education as well as long-standing soap opera, Eastenders. Lisa is deaf and her first language is British Sign Language (BSL). Lisa highlights to us more about her passion for acting as well as the influencers behind this love. Additionally, Lisa touches on some of the challenges she has personally faced throughout her career so far.

Here is what Lisa had to tell us:

  1. Hi Lisa, please could you introduce yourself to our weekly readers?

Hi everyone! I am Lisa Kelly, and I am an actor, as well as BSL consultant and translator. I am deaf and a British Sign Language user; BSL is my first language having been born into a deaf family.

  1. Can you share with us where your flair for acting began and more about when this was?

My interest in acting started when I was in Primary School and my passion for it really developed when I did Drama GCSE, but I never knew how to pursue a career in it as there were not enough representation of deaf actors on mainstream TV. There was also not enough accessible information about how to audition, self-tape and how to network.

  1. What challenges have you faced in the entertainment industry as a deaf individual, and how have you overcome them?

The challenges I have faced in the entertainment industry would be the typical challenges that many deaf people face in their everyday lives; communication, lack of awareness, beliefs in myths of being deaf and seeing us as unable to do our jobs. I overcome this challenge by networking and educating people, although this can be very tiring as we take on the burden of feeding information to people on top of doing our job.

  1. What role does The Deaf Set play in supporting yourself as an actor and how valuable is this support?

The Deaf Set has played a really big part in my career development, I would not be where I am without them. They actively seek out roles for me and put me forward for roles that are not deaf, and this leads the industry to think about changing their characters to being deaf without having the storyline to be very focused on the characters being deaf because we can have characters on TV that just happen to be deaf. They also teach deaf awareness, provide consultancy and they ensure that the access and support is there from the very beginning, rather than later.

  1. You have appeared in various shows and on stage too. Can you expand on some of your favourite memories from your career so far?

Oooh, that’s a very good question! I loved performing as Rosie for My Mother Said I Never Should; there’s something about performing on stage in front of people, it gives you such a good feel! I also always enjoy working with deaf crews- there’s always jokes and laughter going around and it’s so accessible too!

  1. What advice would you give to aspiring deaf actors who are navigating their way through the industry?

Be brave and trust yourself, you really do have to feel confident for yourself and to network because it’s all about who you know as well as what you know. Take the no’s well as you take the yeses, the no’s does not mean you aren’t good enough as often it just means you may not match the image the directors are looking for.

  1. Here at Signature, we are incredibly excited about the prospect of a BSL GCSE in 2025. What are your thoughts on this and how will it positively impact those who are deaf and those who are hearing?

The prospect of a British Sign Language (BSL) GCSE in 2025 holds significant promise for both deaf and hearing individuals for the following reasons:

  • Recognition and Validation: Offering BSL as a GCSE subject provides official recognition to the language, acknowledging its importance and value in society. This recognition is crucial for deaf individuals, as it validates their language and culture, fostering a sense of inclusion and pride.
  • Educational Opportunities: For deaf individuals, a BSL GCSE opens up educational opportunities. It allows them to study a subject that reflects their language and communication needs, potentially leading to further academic pursuits or career pathways related to deaf culture, linguistics, interpretation, or advocacy.
  • Enhanced Communication Skills: For hearing individuals, learning BSL can greatly enhance their communication skills and cultural awareness. It fosters inclusivity by enabling them to communicate effectively with deaf peers, colleagues, or family members. This can break down barriers and promote social integration.
  • Cultural Understanding and Appreciation: Studying BSL promotes cultural understanding and appreciation. It allows both deaf and hearing students to immerse themselves in the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of the deaf community, fostering empathy, respect, and a deeper understanding of diversity.
  • Career Opportunities: A BSL GCSE can create new career opportunities for both deaf and hearing individuals. For deaf individuals, it can pave the way for careers in ANYTHING as more and more hearing individuals, proficiency in BSL can open doors to careers in interpretation (as we always need more interpreters), education, or community services, where knowledge of BSL is highly valued.

Overall, the introduction of a BSL GCSE in 2025 represents a significant step towards inclusivity, equal opportunities, and cultural recognition. It has the potential to positively impact the lives of both deaf and hearing individuals by fostering communication, understanding, and integration within society.

  1. Finally, do you have any exciting projects or goals that you would like to share with our readers?

I am currently on Part 1 of becoming a qualified and NRCPD registered translator! I would love to become a fully qualified and registered NRCPD translator and relay interpreter! There are some other exciting projects that I can’t say yet!

Here at Signature, we would like to thank Lisa for offering insightful advice to those actors and creatives who are commencing their career within the arts. It has been great to learn about Lisa’s individual challenges and how she personally overcame them. Alongside this, Lisa made some excellent points regarding a BSL GCSE, something that we at Signature are incredibly excited about. We look forward to seeing Lisa more widely across our screens in the upcoming months.

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