The anticipating audience hushed, then broke into applause as actress Marissa Bode entered Graham Chapel and took the stage to speak about an issue very close to her heart. Bode, who was paralyzed at age 11 in a car accident, has recently found the spotlight through her role as Nessarose in the films “Wicked” and “Wicked: For Good.” Her visit to WashU on Oct. 17 through the Congress of the South 40 Speaker Series gave her a chance to speak on issues such as authentic casting, harmful stereotypes, and disability inclusion in Hollywood. Bode began her talk with a slideshow titled “Disability Representation in Hollywood Media.”

“I really hope my speech today can give a more in-depth insight into disabled representation in Hollywood and what authentic casting truly means — to not just me, but the entirety of the disabled community,” Bode said.

She continued by delving into the harm that inauthentic casting causes to disabled actors vying for roles and the many stereotypes that disabled characters often reproduce. To combat these issues, Bode advocated for involving disabled writers in the production process to avoid continuing to reinforce stereotypes, and she encouraged the casting of actual disabled people.

“It’s difficult to portray a disabled character accurately when we rarely have the key to the very room that also rarely tells our own stories,” Bode said.

Charlotte Balla | Contributing Photographer

Bode made a point of teaching the audience what the positive, authentic casting and writing of disabled characters actually looks like. For example, Issac in the show “Sex Education” is portrayed by George Robinson, a real wheelchair user like his character, who openly discusses relationships and intimacy. Millicent Simmonds, who plays Regan Abbott in “A Quiet Place Part II,” is deaf just like her character, and Maribel Suarez in “The L Work: Generation Q” is one of the few disabled actors to act in a sex scene.

Bode also cited the changes to “Wicked’s” film version of her character, Nessarose, as another great example of an authentic disabled character. 

“Both in the stage and film version, I personally see Nessarose as I see the other characters — which is complex,” Bode said. “In both versions, Nessa just wants to be seen as a person. In the stage version, however, Nessa’s chair is represented as a prison … ”

Bode also urged the audience to advocate for accessibility, accommodations, and inclusion of disabled people outside of Hollywood, explaining that disabled people made up around 40% of people in state prisons. This disproportionate representation is the result of unfair treatment in the justice system for those with mental health and intellectual disabilities. 

To conclude her talk, Bode participated in a quick Q&A on her experiences in theater and the behind-the-scenes of Wicked. She highlighted the amazing performance of the actress who played young Nessarose, Cesily Collette Taylor, and noted that she is still in contact with the now 7-year-old actress. Bode also commented on the controversy surrounding Nessarose being a bad sister and her worries about the reactions to her character arc in “Wicked: For Good,” promising to comment and clear the air on social media if needed.

Bode’s talk acted as a call to action for the needs of the disabled community — on screen and in everyday life. Bode’s final words perfectly and powerfully made her message clear.

“No one is immune to inaccessibility, and representation alone can’t save the disabled community that is oftentimes drowning in [an] arduous and ableist system, not to mention the continuous eugenics attacks from the current administration that make it clear how much our lives are valued,” Bode said.“We as a collective should make an effort to make our spaces and everyday life more accessible for all, especially because the disabled community is the only marginalized community that anybody can join at any time.”