Rose Ayling-Ellis embraces comedy with new children’s book
Rose Ayling-Ellis has expressed her desire to delve deeper into comedy, highlighting her multifaceted personality that goes beyond her achievements as an actress and advocate for disability rights. The 31-year-old, who has been deaf since birth, is known for her engaging spirit and lighter demeanor, which contrasts with the serious nature of her advocacy work, reports BritPanorama.
Speaking via Zoom with her interpreter Toby present for British Sign Language (BSL), Ayling-Ellis remarked on societal hesitance to laugh with disabled individuals. She shared a recent experience from the reality show Taskmaster’s New Year Treat, where she played a piece of music despite being deaf, eliciting an uncertain but ultimately joyful reaction from the audience when she gave them permission to laugh through her own laughter.
Ayling-Ellis is a blend of an impassioned campaigner and accomplished actor, having earned a nomination for an Olivier Award for her performance as Celia in As You Like It at Soho Theatre last year. Her body of work includes a Bafta-winning performance on Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2021, where she performed an emotional dance that highlighted her unique experience of the world.
Reflecting on her time on the competition, she stated, “I was the fittest I’ve ever been back then. I had not just a six-pack, but an eight-pack. I didn’t even know you could get that! It’s long gone now.” She expressed her contentment with her identity as a deaf person, wanting the world to recognize and adapt to the needs of the deaf community.
In line with her advocacy, Ayling-Ellis has authored a new children’s book, The Big Bang!, part of a 10-book deal with DK Children’s, celebrating World Book Day. It features three cats who adapt their behavior to accommodate their deaf friend, Casper. Ayling-Ellis desires to convey the message of mutual adjustment in relationships to encourage understanding and friendship.
Having grown up in Hythe, Kent, with her mother as her primary caregiver after her parents’ separation, she stated that her mother is the only one in her family who learned sign language. Ayling-Ellis has historically faced challenges in social settings, describing a phenomenon called “Dinner Table syndrome,” where overlapping conversations can leave her feeling excluded. This motivated her to perform for family attention during gatherings.
Her academic journey began with mainstream schooling, evolving into acting while studying fashion design at the University for the Creative Arts, where she joined the Deafinitely Youth Theatre. This eventually led to her role as Frankie in EastEnders, which marked her breakthrough in television.
Ayling-Ellis has since expanded her career through various projects, including documentaries on deaf experiences and performances in popular shows like Doctor Who and Celebrity Bake-Off. She maintains a nuanced perspective on the challenges and rewards of her visibility in the industry, acknowledging the limited opportunities for disabled actors while aspiring to break stereotypes.
Her insights into the deaf community reveal a deep understanding of its history, emphasizing the importance of BSL, which faced suppression in the 19th century. She shared experiences from her community, recognizing the struggles faced by deaf individuals and advocating for more inclusive practices across society.
As for the future, Ayling-Ellis is keen on expanding the narrative surrounding disability in the entertainment industry, with aspirations for more varied roles for disabled actors, aiming to transcend typical genre associations. Her comedic writing project focuses on the experiences of deaf women in the dating scene, showcasing her ability to blend personal narrative with broader themes.
‘The Big Bang! by Rose Ayling-Ellis and Katie Blackburn with illustrations by Paddy Donnelly is out now (DK Children’s, £1).
