Glee's Lauren Potter, Doesn't Let Down Syndrome Stop Her

The mega popular high school TV drama, musical comedy Glee has added a new cheerleader to its peppy "Cheerios" squad. Her name is Lauren Potter and she has Down syndrome. Lauren plays new cheerleader Becky Jackson.

In case you are not familiar with Glee, it follows Mc Kinley High School teacher Will Schuester, as he tries to transform a wonderful mixture of misfit jocks, cheer leaders and social outcast kids into show choir champions.

Each member of the New Directions, Glee Club has a story to tell, and each week Glee follows a few of these characters as they deal with the normal misery of high school, including race, sexual orientation, sexuality, pregnancy, relationships, body image, social issues and disabilities.

The stories, often funny, poignant and very exaggerated, are told through drama and terrific musical numbers. All the actors are seasoned stage performers and the show resembles modern day musical theater. Many of today's popular singers and actors also perform on the show in cameo appearances, so the show is quite entertaining and popular.

A favorite character on the show is the girls' cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch), who portrays the most deliciously evil, diabolical, mean, goofy gym teacher ever to invade a school kid's nightmares.

Wearing her signature track suit each week, Sue Sylvester's mission at the school is to destroy the Glee club and ruin its hunky teacher, Mr. Schuester. There is something about his gorgeous thick hair that drives Sue crazy, and she never stops tormenting him.

However, we have learned that Ms. Sylvester has a secret that might explain her negative behavior. Sue has a developmentally delayed sister, who lives in a group home. Sue visits her often, and we see a tender side of the tyrant coach.

We also learn that the two sisters were raised by their Nazi Hunter mother, played by a crazed, hilarious Carol Burnett who obviously did little to nurture her daughters during their formative years. .

When Becky Jackson (played by Lauren Potter, who has Down syndrome) tries out for cheerleading at the high school, she gets accepted and soon becomes Ms. Sylvester's secretary/assistant. Becky holds her own with the coach who does not treat her any better than the rest of the kids.

Lauren Potter tried out for cheerleader in her own high school, didn't make it, and was heartbroken. So getting the role on Glee and wearing the cheer leading uniform is "awesome." She says Jane Lynch is "really nice."

Lauren, 19, is a member of the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles which offers programs, education, and counseling. She graduated from Poly High School in Riverside, California.

Down syndrome is a condition in which extra genetic material causes delays in the ways a child develops, both mentally and physically. It effects 1 in every 800 babies. Some kids need lots of treatment while others can lead healthy lives.

Lauren was contacted to audition for Glee through the talent agency "Hearts and Hands." Lauren beat out 14 other actresses who tried out for the role of Becky Jackson. She appeared in 3 episodes of Glee last season and will continue to be an on going character.

Lauren gets along fine with her cast mates, she describes as fun and friendly, but says her real life high school experiences were quite difficult. She recalls being called names and being stared at. Now posters of Lauren hang in the high school. The students are proud of her and ask for her autograph.

Lauren's mom helps her memorize and practice her lines and she has no difficulty performing. She wants Americans to see that kids with Down syndrome are OK.

Life is good for Lauren now, but she recalls a lifetime of being bullied and called "retarded," a word she wants eliminated from today's language, especially after the Charlie Sheen rants.

Lauren says "Enough is enough. Spread the word to end the word." She and various celebrities are urging Gleeks* and everyone else to take the pledge (http://www.r-word.org/) to stop using the R-word.

The future looks bright for Lauren Potter. Besides her acting on Glee, she attends special classes in life skills and self-sufficiency. She was grand marshall of Riverside's Thanksgiving parade.

She appears regularly on TV talk and entertainment shows and has a new beau. She has a dramatic film in the works.

We thank the producers of Glee for introducing this special young actress to us, and wish Ms. Lauren Potter continued success.

*Gleeks-fans of Glee

Sources:

http://www.gleefan.com/lauren-potter/

http://thehandiestone.typepad.com/blog/2010/04/down-syndrome-takes-center-sta...