Leah Rachel

Hi! I'm Leah, an Access Coordinator, actor, and now a new writer, too.

As an access coordinator I work on everything from Film, to TV, to Theatre including the West End. I am there to support disabled cast, crew, and production members to make sure they can access their jobs, and I support production in disability representation. I’m represented by the only Access Team in the industry, and recently spoke at a panel by the TV Access Project hosted by UKTV with attendees from 9 other broadcasters and streaming services, and many more.

Last year I achieved my Research Masters in Medical Ethics, specifically in chronic pain conditions, and my research has not only reached 18,000+ chronic pain patients at last count, but is even now in a top UK med school curriculum.

As an actor I have appeared in short films, web series, commercials, and on stage, too. I started out in Musical Theatre, so am a trained dancer as well, but made the move over to screen.

I’m also a new writer. My first pilot script hit the festival circuit earlier this year, and within a month and a half it was awarded its first 3 laurels - including as semifinalist in the London International Screenwriting Competition.

I began writing to help bridge the gap in true authentic disability representation in our industry.

Knowing how much of a need there is for a strong, female lead with a prominent disability: I began writing these authentic roles for myself and other disabled actors. As a show, it would also create many opportunities for disabled crew and production members, too.

Disabled adults deserve to see themselves in characters and stories; disabled children deserve to have characters they can look up to; and abled viewers deserve to watch the authentic stories of disability in the way we want them to be told.

Strong, female, disabled protagonists who kick ass and teach the world about disability aren't out there - but absolutely deserve to be! I hope (am working extremely hard to try and make happen) my show will be one of them!