Theatre Arts alumna wins prestigious theatre prize for role at National Theatre.
Date: 29 April 2022
Liz Carr, who trained on London Met’s Performing Arts training course for disabled people, was named Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the 2022 Olivier Awards earlier this week.
Liz was recognised for her performance as Dr Emma Brookner in The Normal Heart at the National Theatre. The Brookner character was inspired by Linda Laubenstein, an HIV researcher and wheelchair user who was among the first doctors in the United States to recognise the AIDS epidemic of the early 1980s.
Observing that this was the first time in 35 years that the role had been played by a disabled actor, Carr said, “There are so many fears, risks of employing disabled actors. You know what? I think this proves we can do it. We can project. We can fill a stage.”
The actor and comedian is best known for playing forensic examiner Clarissa Mullery on the BBC drama Silent Witness. Her recent screen appearances include roles in Devs, Witcher, CripTales and Good Omens and she is a regular in the comedy line-up Abnormally Funny People. Liz is also a member of Not Dead Yet, an international network of disabled people opposed to the legalisation of assisted suicide. As part of this project, in 2016 she devised Assisted Suicide: The Musical, an innovative theatre project that exploring this complex and controversial subject.
Enjoy the moment Liz receives the award at The Royal Albert Hall and her powerful acceptance speech.
