Sarah Gordy

Sarah Gordy (born c.1978)[1] is a British actress who has Down syndrome. She is best known for her portrayal of Lady Pamela Holland in the 2010 BBC TV series of Upstairs Downstairs.

Early life

Sarah Gordy is from Sussex and attended a mainstream primary school in Crowborough, Sussex.[2] Because of her father's job, the family moved to the United States where she attended high school in Houston, Texas.[3] They then returned to the UK when Gordy was 16 years old, when she attended South Downs College, Lewes, East Sussex at which time she started acting.[3]

Career

Gordy gained her first main acting job on the ITV television series, Peak Practice. She subsequently landed other one-off TV roles.[2] In 2006 she played the leading role in a touring theatre production, Seize the Day, with the Hijinx Theatre.[4]

In summer 2010 Gordy found out she had been chosen for the role of Lady Pamela Holland in Carlton Television's new production of Upstairs Downstairs. Lady Pamela was a long-lost sister of the lead character, Sir Hallam. Her role was written to illustrate the 1930s attitudes to disabilities.[5] The third series was televised in February 2012. She also appeared in the BBC radio play, Resurrection, in April 2012[5] and read the "Bedtime Story" on CBeebies on 4 December 2013.

Gordy is also expected to appear in a forthcoming feature film, The Girl From Tibet.[2]

Gordy starred in a series three episode of Call the Midwife which was broadcast on BBC One on February 16th 2014 as Sally Harper, a young woman with Down's Syndrome who fell pregnant from her relationship with Jacob Milligan, a young man with cerebral palsy played by Colin Young. Written by series creator Heidi Thomas, the episode highlighted the treatment of people with physical and intellectual disabilities in British society in the late 1950s.

Personal life

Sarah has a younger sister Catherine.[3] Their mother, Jane Gordy, acts as Sarah's personal assistant,[2] travelling with her and helping with her lines.[3] Jane has said "The interesting thing about Sarah is she doesn’t really act. She feels very emotional on set. She can’t fake emotion, so instead she believes everything about her character."[1]

Gordy lives in Lewes, Sussex. She works with The Oyster Project, a local disability charity.[5] She also volunteers in a charity shop[5] and at a local drop-in cafe.[2]

She also writes her own poetry.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Thompson, Kate; Francis, Jenny (21 March 2012). "My son loves Lady Gaga, football and cuddles... and he also has Down’s". The Sun. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Sarah Gordy - 'I didn't get bullied and was lucky to avoid that'". Sussex Courier. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Sanderson, Elizabeth (20 February 2012). "The actress with Down's syndrome who has earned a milestone role in BBC's Upstairs Downstairs drama". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  4. ↑ "The Ouch Assessment: Sarah Gordy". 11 September 2006. BBC Ouch!. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Wallin, James (21 February 2012). "Upstairs Downstairs actress's new-found fame". The Argus (Sussex). Retrieved 2012-09-25.

External links