Oscar Nominated

Stoke-on-Trent actress and writer Rachel Shenton and director Chris Overton have landed an Oscar nomination for their critically acclaimed movie, The Silent Child.

The Silent Child has been nominated in the best live action short film category of the 2018 Oscars and tells the story of a profoundly deaf four-year-old girl, Libby, who is living a silent life until she is taught to communicate using sign language by a caring social worker played by Rachel.

Rachel wrote the film because of her own personal experiences and described the subject “as very close to my heart” due to her Dad losing his hearing very suddenly when she was a teenager and witnessing the first-hand effects that hearing loss can have.

Rachel learned British Sign Language aged 16 and has campaigned to increase awareness of deafness ever since.

Rachel has previously appeared in a number of British television series and films including Hollyoaks, Holby City, and Waterloo Road and more recently made her American TV debut on ABC Family drama Switched at Birth as Lily Summers.

The Oscars will be announced at the award ceremony on 4th March at the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood.