--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I did my first series lead back in 1991…" description: "\"I did my first series lead back in 1991 on a show called 'Reasonable Doubts' and have done many shows with other actors who are deaf. But 'Switched at ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48b/marlee-matlin-7644_actor_i-did-my-first-series-lead-back-in-1991_1204193.jpg" --- # I did my first series lead back in 1991 on a show called… ![“I did my first series lead back in 1991 on a show called 'Reasonable Doubts' and have done many shows with other actors who are deaf. But 'Switched at Birth' is the first TV show where there is more than one actor who is deaf or hard of hearing and who are series regulars.” quote by Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48b/marlee-matlin-7644_actor_i-did-my-first-series-lead-back-in-1991_1204193.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48b/marlee-matlin-7644_actor_i-did-my-first-series-lead-back-in-1991_1204193.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48b/marlee-matlin-7644_actor_i-did-my-first-series-lead-back-in-1991_1204193.jpg) > “I did my first series lead back in 1991 on a show called 'Reasonable Doubts' and have done many shows with other actors who are deaf. But 'Switched at Birth' is the first TV show where there is more than one actor who is deaf or hard of hearing and who are series regulars.” [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The actress notes that while she has worked with deaf actors before, 'Switched at Birth' is the first series featuring multiple deaf regulars, marking progress in representation. **In simple terms:** More deaf actors on a regular TV show shows growing inclusion. Key Takeaway Support and demand diverse casting in media. Themes representation inclusion disability rights media career milestones Mood hopeful inspired analytical Type advocacy industry personal When to use this quote - casting decisions - TV production - advocacy - career development - public awareness Key Concepts visibility authentic storytelling industry change Questions to Reflect On - What impact does seeing deaf actors in mainstream shows have on audiences? - How can industry further improve authentic representation? A Different Perspective Progress may be uneven; challenges remain for broader inclusion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Deaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-deaf-3623472/) [Actors Deaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-deaf-3623471/) [Back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Deaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deaf/) [Deaf Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deaf-hard-957448/) [Deaf Switched](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deaf-switched-3623470/) [Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Doubts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubts/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hearing/) [Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other/) [Reasonable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasonable/) [Series](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/series/) [Show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/show/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Switched](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/switched/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Tv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tv/) [Tv show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tv-show/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [People who are deaf or hard of hearing need all the support we can give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-loach/people-who-are-deaf-or-hard-of-hearing-need-all-the-support-we-can/) [Ken Loach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-loach/) > [Inequality within the deaf and hard of hearing community is something I feel really passionate about and always will do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-shenton/inequality-within-the-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-community-is-something/) [Rachel Shenton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-shenton/) > [To me, wearing glasses is no pleasure, but once I conceded that I simply couldn't properly judge distance without them, I began to experiment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/to-me-wearing-glasses-is-no-pleasure-but-once-i-conceded-that-i/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I should never have switched from Scotch to Martinis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humphrey-bogart/i-should-never-have-switched-from-scotch-to-martinis/) [Humphrey Bogart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humphrey-bogart/) > [My dad wanted me to be a scientist and I was set to study science A-levels. But after the first term I realised it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/my-dad-wanted-me-to-be-a-scientist-and-i-was-set-to-study-science-a/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) > [Bill Phillips was this nervous, chain-smoking student. He had signed up to be an engineer, he had gone away to fight in the Second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-harford/bill-phillips-was-this-nervous-chain-smoking-student-he-had-signed-up/) [Tim Harford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-harford/) > [On that Sunday of the Masters I remember turning on ESPN to find people talking about me. I switched over to the Golf Channel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-mcilroy/on-that-sunday-of-the-masters-i-remember-turning-on-espn-to-find/) [Rory McIlroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-mcilroy/) > [I switched to painting with my left hand to be in better company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-van-wyk/i-switched-to-painting-with-my-left-hand-to-be-in-better-company/) [Helen Van Wyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-van-wyk/) > [So, I simply switched over to wine because it was not carbonated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-steele/so-i-simply-switched-over-to-wine-because-it-was-not-carbonated/) [Peter Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-steele/) > [Only that which can be switched, can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-kittler/only-that-which-can-be-switched-can-be/) [Friedrich Kittler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-kittler/) > [Probably the best caddies are the smartest ones and the ones that are switched on mentally more than some of the others maybe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/probably-the-best-caddies-are-the-smartest-ones-and-the-ones-that-are/) [Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) > [The robot is not going to want to be switched off because you've given it a goal to achieve and being switched off is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-j-russell/the-robot-is-not-going-to-want-to-be-switched-off-because-you-ve/) [Stuart J. Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-j-russell/) > [We should assume that the end product can be switched off by any consumer who is offended or frightened by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-king/we-should-assume-that-the-end-product-can-be-switched-off-by-any/) [Richard King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-king/) > [Whoever you are, you have to be that. You know? I was always who I was. I never changed, I never switched.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/whoever-you-are-you-have-to-be-that-you-know-i-was-always-who-i-was-i/) [Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/) > [It could have been me. And just the hope and prayers that, you know, if, if the shoes were switched, that you know, Laci…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-frey/it-could-have-been-me-and-just-the-hope-and-prayers-that-you-know-if/) [Amber Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-frey/) ## More by Marlee Matlin > [Looking back now, thinking about that moment in the lights, with my heart pounding, Oscar in my hand, all I can say is I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/looking-back-now-thinking-about-that-moment-in-the-lights-with-my/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I'm tired of seeing listings of programs I want to watch that aren't closed captioned. And I'm tired of looking for the symbol on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-m-tired-of-seeing-listings-of-programs-i-want-to-watch-that-aren-t/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [We had a dog, Apples. He was 13 years old, toothless, blind and had the worst breath this side of Jabba the Hut. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/we-had-a-dog-apples-he-was-13-years-old-toothless-blind-and-had-the/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [What the Bleep Do We Know was not written with a deaf person in mind, but when they met me, it clicked with them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/what-the-bleep-do-we-know-was-not-written-with-a-deaf-person-in-mind/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I like to say that the greatest handicap of deafness does not lie in the ear, it lies in the mind. I hope that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-like-to-say-that-the-greatest-handicap-of-deafness-does-not-lie-in/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [There are so many people, deaf or otherwise abled, who are so talented but overlooked or not given a chance to even get their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/there-are-so-many-people-deaf-or-otherwise-abled-who-are-so-talented/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [When I was 13, I told Henry Winkler I wanted to act. He said, Do it and don't let anyone stand in your way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/when-i-was-13-i-told-henry-winkler-i-wanted-to-act-he-said-do-it-and/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [There are many deaf people who couldn't imagine living in a marriage without someone who doesn't speak their language. For me, I believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/there-are-many-deaf-people-who-couldn-t-imagine-living-in-a-marriage/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [Watch me when people say deaf and dumb, or deaf mute, and I give them a look like you might get if you called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/watch-me-when-people-say-deaf-and-dumb-or-deaf-mute-and-i-give-them-a/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [YouTube is akin to having my own network.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/youtube-is-akin-to-having-my-own-network/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I hope I inspire people who hear. Hearing people have the ability to remove barriers that prevent deaf people from achieving their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-hope-i-inspire-people-who-hear-hearing-people-have-the-ability-to/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I learned to speak first, and then to sign. I have never really known what it was like to hear, so I cant compare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-learned-to-speak-first-and-then-to-sign-i-have-never-really-known/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [It was ability that mattered, not disability, which is a word I'm not crazy about using.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/it-was-ability-that-mattered-not-disability-which-is-a-word-i-m-not/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [“Social justice is for everyone, including people with disabilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/social-justice-is-for-everyone-including-people-with-disabilities/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [The only thing I can't do is hear. I can drive, I have a life with four kids, I work on TV, I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/the-only-thing-i-can-t-do-is-hear-i-can-drive-i-have-a-life-with-four/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) [Explore all 89 Marlee Matlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I did my first series lead back in 1991 on a show called 'Reasonable Doubts' and have done many shows with other actors who are deaf. 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