The inclusion of Matlin as a presenter was hailed on Twitter. There’s lots of brown, black, Asian and non-English speaking people presenting and winning awards. Is it too early in the evening to be saying this, wrote Twitter user Sonia Smallacombe, then Marlee Matlin presents in sign language. I’m blown away with the diversity of the Oscars.
Then Marlee Matlin presents in sign language. I’m blown away with the diversity of the #Oscars Sonia Smallacombe (@SSmallacombe) April 26, 2021
However, the Academy was criticised for cutting away from Matlin to show the category nominees, while her interpreter s voice was heard over the footage.
Filmmaker Siân Heder tipped me off about Marlee Matlin, saying that the moment you meet her, she’ll ask 10 questions. Sure enough, when we connect via Zoom, she takes one look at the bookcases in the background and begins, asking through her sign language interpreter and confidante Jack Jason if I’ve read
every book on those shelves.
Noticing the Oscar in the background of her shot, I counter by asking Matlin if she frames all her video interviews just so, to spotlight the Academy Award and, yes, the Golden Globe (the Oscar’s “little cousin,” as she puts it) she won at age 21 for “Children of a Lesser God.”