Written by Angelique Jackson, Variety, May 29, 2025
BAFTA nominee Ruth Madeley will star as disability rights activist Judy Heumann in Academy Award winner Siân Heder’s upcoming feature “Being Heumann” for Apple Original Films.
Based on Heumann’s bestselling memoir of the same title, “Being Heumann” follows the activist as she leads over a hundred disabled people to take over the San Francisco Federal Building, kicking off a 28-day sit-in. As a synopsis of the film explains, “The protestors quickly form a tightly-bound community, refusing to leave until the government enforces section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which required all federal spaces to become accessible.”
Heder — whose 2021 film “CODA” became the first movie with a predominantly Deaf cast to win the Oscar for best picture, while she collected the trophy for best adapted screenplay — will adapt, direct and produce the project under her overall deal with Apple. Rebekah Taussig will serve as co-writer.
Madeley, the British star best known for starring in “Then Barbara Met Alan,” “Years and Years” and “Doctor Who,” is also a passionate advocate for disability representation.
“What an unbelievable honour to play The Mother of disability rights, an icon and powerhouse to the disabled community,” Madeley said in a statement about landing the role. “Judy has always been a source of inspiration for me personally and I am so excited to share her story with the world. This is truly the role of a lifetime.”
In 2018, Madeley presented the BBC Two/Horizon documentary “Spina Bifida & Me,” which examines how a law could prevent many birth defects and how pioneering fetal surgery could transform the lives of babies with spina bifida. In the series, Madeley explores her journey with spina bifida while speaking with other patients and medical professionals.
Madeley’s breakout role came in the 2015 BBC drama “Don’t Take My Baby,” where she played a disabled woman fighting to keep custody of her child. The performance earned her a BAFTA nomination for best actress and, the following year, she was named a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit. Most recently, Madeley played Shirley Anne Bingham on “Doctor Who,” first appearing on the 60th anniversary special episode, opposite David Tennant and Catherine Tate, then reprising the role on the new series led by Ncuti Gatwa. Next year, she’ll film the leading role in “The Rapture,” a BBC five-part adaptation of Liz Jensen’s best-selling novel. Madeley is repped by Emma Higginbottom Curtis Brown and Tapestry London.
“Being Heumann” is produced by David Permut (“Hacksaw Ridge,” “Face/Off”) and Kevin Walsh (“Napoleon,” “Manchester By The Sea”) for The Walsh Company under his overall deal with Apple. Heumann’s managers John W. Beach and Kevin Cleary (of Gravity Squared Entertainment) also serve as producers. Executive producers include Heumann, “Being Heumann” co-author Kristen Joiner and Diana Pokorny.