The debate about inclusion in the world of entertainment, since it is almost always said that the way in which Hollywood incorporates people and communities that have historically been marginalized is wrong. However, this time we will tell you about a successful case of inclusion, that of Noah Matthews Matofsky, the actor with Down Syndrome who will appear in Peter Pan & Wendy from Disney.
As you may remember, Mickey Mouse’s house announced that it was working on a live-action version based on his 1953 film and on the work of JM Barrie with big names in the industry like Jude Law playing Captain Hook. But besides this great actor, Noah Matthews Matofsky drew attention within the cast of the Disney+ film because he will have an important role.
Noah Matthews Matofsky, the actor with Down Syndrome who appears in ‘Peter Pan & Wendy’
It turns out that Noah Matthews Matofsky interpreta en Peter Pan & Wendy to Slightly, the leader of the Lost Boys of the new adaptation of this Disney classic. And wow, for the 15-year-old British boy from Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, this is a true dream come true, since he has been a fan of cinema since childhood and always imagined himself on the big screen.
In interview for The Sun, Noah Matthews Matofsky said that he found out that Disney was holding auditions for the new version of Peter Pan through his talent agency, which works to create inclusion within entertainment and where he was hired as a model. However, He did not hesitate to send his casting to enter the film directed by David Lowery.
After sending several videos, Disney invited Noah Matthews Matofsky to an online meeting with David himself and according to the mother of the young man with Down Syndrome, her son and the director immediately connected because they are both fans of the film Lord of the Flies. After this meeting, they told him in 2021 that he had kept the role of Slightly in Peter Pan & Wendy.
Noah Matthews Matofsky had great anecdotes during the filming of the movie
And of course, Noah Matthews Matofsky was very moved by the news, because as we told you before, he always dreamed of making it to the movies and this is his film debut. However, I didn’t know that I was going to have a great experience during the six months that the filming of the tape lasted, because I got into the action scenes and everything.
“It was an amazing experience, I had my own trailer and I made a lot of great friends. We all learned sword fighting, which I loved. I had a lot of lines to learn very quickly, but it was exciting and I really enjoyed it. I had to go to the makeup truck every day to have mud put on my face. “.
Noah Matthews Matofsky told The Sun about his experience filming Peter Pan & Wendy
However, what Noah Matthews Mitofsky remembers most about his days on the set of Peter Pan & Wendy was a great detail that Jude Law himself had with the young castWell, the boy says that the 50-year-old actor rented an ice cream truck and served all the kids himself… a real dude.
Now, Noah Matthews Mitofsky seeks to be an example of inclusion in the film industry
Now, back to “reality”, Noah Matthews Mitofsky became a true celebrity within his family and acquaintances for the role he got in Peter Pan & Wendy from Disney, and that clearly makes this young man happy: “My friends loved the trailer and gave me amazing compliments. A million people have asked me for an autograph. I’m a bit of a hero.”.
But the thing did not stop there, since due to the attention that his story attracted, Noah Matthews Mitofsky was asked to be an ambassador for the charity Down Syndrome UK. However, this boy seeks to take advantage of his popularity to convey the message that Down Syndrome does not have to stop anyone:
“Noah is very proud of his extra chromosome. As the captain of the Lost Boys, his character Slightly shows that Down Syndrome never has to hold you back. It is not a learning difficulty, it is a learning difference, and we must accept the differences”.
Katheryn, Noah Matthews Mitofsky’s mother, declared about her son’s message
Noah Matthews Matofsky’s role in Peter Pan & Wendy comes at an important time for inclusion in Hollywood, after James Martin became the first actor with Down syndrome to star in an Oscar-winning filmfor his role in the short film An Irish Goodbye. And without a doubt, we are sure that both will be examples for the next generations.
