March is Women’s History Month, and we would like to take a moment to showcase some of our favorite famous women who have hearing loss. These courageous people have risen above the fray and have acted as guiding lights for anyone who has ever suffered from hearing loss or deafness.
Famous Women Who Have Hearing Loss: A Women’s History Month Spotlight
Marlee Matlin
Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin has advocated for people with hearing disabilities for over 30 years. After losing her ability to hear from a childhood disease at the age of 12, she has gone on to become one of the most familiar faces of the deaf and hearing impaired.
Regina Olson Hughes
In 1920 Regina Olson Hughes became the first deaf artist to receive a solo exhibition at the Smithsonian Institute. Her work has inspired countless illustrators and artists with her amazing botanical drawings made for such institutions as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C., and the Agricultural Research Commission. She has been honored for her contributions to science by having two flowers named after her.
Jodie Foster
While usually a very private person, Jodie Foster has recently spoken publicly about her issues with hearing loss and has been seen openly wearing a hearing aid at several public galas and award ceremonies.
Millie Bobby Brown
Completely deaf in one ear, Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown has turned a lot of heads when she became the youngest person to be nominated for an Emmy. Her rising fame has made her a role model for the next generation of deaf and hearing disabled children.
Holly Hunter
Known for her intense and edgy roles, Holly Hunter has turned her disability into an advantage. Her hearing was lost in one ear after contracting mumps in childhood. She has attributed having to listen attentively to hear others that helped her gain the skills of observation that have won her so many awards.
Jane Lynch
Jane Lynch lost hearing in one ear after an illness in infancy. But she has never let her hearing loss slow her down; the numerous awards and activist work highlight her carrier on the stage and screen. Jane currently lives in Santa Barbara, California, with her wife, Jennifer Cheyne, where she continues to act, write, and advocate for a better society.
Frequently Asked Questions
The spotlight features well-known women such as Marlee Matlin, Regina Olson Hughes, Jodie Foster, Millie Bobby Brown, Holly Hunter, and Jane Lynch, each of whom has overcome hearing loss to achieve remarkable success.
Marlee Matlin, who lost her hearing at age 12, has been an advocate for people with hearing disabilities for over 30 years, using her platform as an Academy Award-winning actress to raise awareness and support.
Regina Olson Hughes was the first deaf artist to have a solo exhibition at the Smithsonian Institute in 1920; she is celebrated for her botanical illustrations and has had two flowers named in her honor for her scientific contributions.
Jodie Foster has spoken openly about her hearing loss in recent years and has been seen wearing a hearing aid at public events, showing openness about her condition despite her typically private nature.
Millie Bobby Brown is completely deaf in one ear, yet she became the youngest person nominated for an Emmy, inspiring many young people with hearing disabilities as a role model in the entertainment industry.
Having lost hearing in one ear due to mumps in childhood, Holly Hunter credits this with enhancing her listening and observational skills, which have contributed to her intense and award-winning performances.
Jane Lynch lost hearing in one ear as an infant but has built a successful career in acting and writing. She is also an active advocate for social causes while residing in Santa Barbara, California with her wife.