FanSided: Lauren Ridloff Disability Representation On and Off Screen panel SDCC
Image Description: A woman with curly hair smiles at someone out of frame. In the background a man in a blue outfit and a woman with dark hair stand smiling.
by Renee Hansen
Comic Con 2022 is in full swing, and if you are keeping track, there is so much greatness going on at this event. This is the first in-person event for SDCC since 2019, and people are ready for it. The Walking Dead’s Lauren Ridloff, who plays Connie, was a guest at the Disability Representation On and Off Screen panel.
The panel was held Thursday, July 21, at 10 a.m. PT. It explored disability representation on and off the screen and was used to shed more light on disability as another pillar of diversity that is often overlooked. It was also a celebration of the diversity within the disabled community.
Ridloff is also a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Mikkari of Eternals. Joining her on the panel were several people in the industry who are passionate about reminding people that Disability is diversity.
Steve Way is an actor and comedian who currently stars in Hulu’s Ramy and advocates for actors with disabilities. Jillian Mercado is a wheelchair user, actress, and fashion model who uses her experiences in her career to fight back against the lack of disability representation in the modeling and acting industry.
Josh Feldman is an actor, screenwriter, and co-creator of the Sundance Now series This Close, which features two Deaf friends living in LA.
Abbey White, Assoc. editor at The Hollywood Reporter, served as moderator.
Image Description: A series of tweets from the @DisabilityisDEI account that read: “Introducing our Disability Representation On and Off Screen panelists sharing their expert knowledge @comic_con! #SDCC Deaf actress @LaurenRidloff is best known for her portrayals as Makkari in MCU Eternals and as Connie in AMC’s The Walking Dead. She was also nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in the 2018 revival of Children of a Lesser God. #SDCC