Katie LeClerc Switched at Birth
Katie LeClerc stars in the new Monday night ABC Family show, Switched At Birth. In the show she plays a deaf teenager coping with life in the hearing world. What you may not know is that Katie herself is also hard of hearing. She has Meniere's disease, an inner-ear disorder that can cause severe hearing loss over time. It is possible that her hearing may get worse as she gets older.
Q: Tell us about your character in the show.
Katie: Daphne is a normal, typical high school girl. She plays basketball on her team. She's got boyfriends. She's got good grades. And she's deaf. It was really exciting to be able to portray that. I learned sign language when I was 17. I learned it in high school. When I was 20, I found out that I had Meniere's disease and I am very, very, very fortunate that I will be able to communicate for the rest of my life, because it gets worse over time. I thought, I would not leave my daughter alone in the deaf world and not teach her. It's amazing how many parents do and because of that I learned sign language.
Q: Do you do your voice on the show?
Katie: I do speak in accents on the show. We mapped out Daphne's hearing loss and what that would mean for her accents. So I trained in dialect and worked on that very hard.
Q: Did you get any advice from [deaf actress Marlee Matlin] about Deaf culture?
Katie: I've had some great conversations with Marlee. The Deaf community has a different perspective on the world than the hearing community does and I think this show's gonna be a great bridge between the two worlds and I think we're hopefully going to be very successful with that.
Q: Did you ever feel you wanted to switch lives and not have Meniere's disease?
Katie: There are definitely symptoms and some times are harder than others but my sister's is far more progressed than mine and to see how her struggle goes and see what she does is sort of inspiring and I'm lucky 'cause I get to know what I have to look forward to so I can prepare for it. There's really nothing you can do about it so I just try to keep a positive attitude. I've acted for ten years and I've had the great opportunity to play this role. I've been very fortunate as far as this goes.
Q: Has anyone not wanted to cast you because of it?
Katie: Most people are unaware of my hearing loss.
Q: If you lose your hearing, will you still speak? Have you thought about what it would be like?
Katie: I think that I'm going to embrace the moment that I've been given right now and take it one day at a time. But I have every plan in the world to continue with my career and keep up with the good work.
I think that's good advice for anyone, no matter who you are! What do you think? Will you be watching Switched at Birth? Let us know in the Comments.
— Interview by Gerri Miller
Images courtesy of ABC Family
Cool!
Comment #1 | Posted by: ashi1 on June 03, 2011 at 06:44 AM
I probably won't, because I'm not into that drama kind of stuff. Even though it's called ABCFAMILY, most of the time it's not very family-friendly.
Comment #2 | Posted by: cutie3500 on June 03, 2011 at 08:01 AM
That's really inspiring!!! Can't wait to see it!!!!!
Comment #3 | Posted by: GryffindorWolf on June 03, 2011 at 10:39 AM
I heard about this; it sounds really cool!
Comment #4 | Posted by: stonefairy on June 03, 2011 at 11:54 AM
That show sounds interesing i think i'll have to watch
Comment #5 | Posted by: caramelkiwi4 on June 03, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Sounds cool!
Comment #6 | Posted by: redcat32 on June 03, 2011 at 01:20 PM
I REALLY want to see that!! CANT WAIT!!!!!
Comment #7 | Posted by: shoppingmonkey3 on June 03, 2011 at 02:17 PM
No. My dad doesn't like that kind of stuff. He just doesn't.
Comment #8 | Posted by: Poseidonboggart2 on June 03, 2011 at 02:56 PM
I've heard of this it sounds so cool! I can't wait to see it! :)
Comment #9 | Posted by: grapesnegotiator2 on June 03, 2011 at 03:09 PM
Awesome idea! very inspiring!
Comment #10 | Posted by: Ilovedots on June 03, 2011 at 05:51 PM
I'm really excited to see how Katie handles the challenge of "seeing the world through a deaf person's eyes". Sounds like she's up for the challenge. And what a smile!
Comment #11 | Posted by: John on June 03, 2011 at 06:05 PM
so coooooooooooooooooooooooool cant wait
Comment #12 | Posted by: lildophin on June 03, 2011 at 06:31 PM
i really want 2 see the show switched at birth.
Comment #13 | Posted by: bullshrewd1 on June 03, 2011 at 08:36 PM
it must be hard for her to not be able to hear and act
Comment #14 | Posted by: purplebird57 on June 03, 2011 at 10:07 PM
I saw the trailer and it seems nice and spproriate. I'm intrigued about this mystery. And the girl who played Layne Abeley in The Clique is goingto be in it.
Comment #15 | Posted by: Mia on June 03, 2011 at 10:28 PM
In my opinion, abc family dosent always play family approved movies!
Comment #16 | Posted by: Marisa on June 04, 2011 at 03:52 PM
i do not even know who she is somebody please tell me
Comment #17 | Posted by: ketchupamethyst3 on June 04, 2011 at 07:36 PM
I saw the trailer I was so inspired by everything you said it shows alot descripition and how all people are unique and different you have inspired me to take sigh language classes I cant to start Good luck hope the tv show goes great THANKS!:)
Comment #18 | Posted by: PresidentJade2 on June 04, 2011 at 10:17 PM
I'd like to see it, but I wished they would've picked a less obvious title.
Comment #19 | Posted by: B on June 05, 2011 at 08:18 AM
ive heard of it im really excited to see that movie it looks interesting
Comment #20 | Posted by: Cassy on June 05, 2011 at 10:01 AM
I can't wait to see the show!
Comment #21 | Posted by: Peacefuldog1 on June 05, 2011 at 06:48 PM
it looks scary!
Comment #22 | Posted by: Georgea on June 06, 2011 at 10:40 AM
hey i cant wait to watch i probely goin to love it
Comment #23 | Posted by: cowfrost5 on June 06, 2011 at 02:50 PM
I hope she gets better
Comment #24 | Posted by: paige on June 06, 2011 at 05:23 PM
i've seen the commercials cuz i watch ABCfamily A LOT!! and i think its gunna b really cool.
u sould do any interview with the other actress that plays the other girl. IT AIRS 2NITE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment #25 | Posted by: cheekypug1 (formerly SoccerBoarder) on June 06, 2011 at 06:18 PM