COLUMBUS, Ohio — Marissa Bode isn't just breaking ground on "Wicked" – she's using her platform to push Hollywood to rethink how it represents disability.
Bode, 25, says reactions to the first film from young viewers, including kids who are disabled and those who aren't used to "seeing somebody that looks a little bit different from them on a big screen," have been "really impactful and really cool." But representation is only the beginning, and there is still a much-needed reconsideration around people with disabilities working in the industry, she says.
"Representation barely scratches the surface of disability issues," she tells USA TODAY.
"There is a lot of work still to be done," she says.
The actress, who is set to return to the big screen Nov. 21 for "Wicked: For Good," is reflecting on the response to her role as the first actress in a wheelchair to play Nessarose, her ongoing disability advocacy and what's next during a conversation at Forbes' 30 Under 30 Summit in early October.
