“I have no interest in mediocrity!” Adam Pearson on having confidence to be extraordinary
Happy Place
Fearne Cotton
4.6 • 15.2K Ratings
🗓️ 25 November 2024
⏱️ 55 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Did you have dreams of being extraordinary when you were a kid? For many of us, adult life starts chipping away at those big hopes and goals, but actor and disability campaigner Adam Pearson has no interest in being ‘normal’ or ‘mediocre’.
In this chat with Fearne, Adam explains how never having the luxury of being invisible – he was born with neurofibromatosis – has given him confidence to really stand out. So how did he go from being bullied at school to boldly starring on the big screen?
They talk about systemic ableism within the film and TV industries, and Adam explains why it shouldn’t be the job of the disability community to fix a problem they didn’t create... but often is. Plus, why is it that it’s always the movie villains who are facially disfigured, never the heroes?
Plus, the three types of people you need in your life: a truth teller, a confidant, and a ride or die...
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello and a massive welcome to Happy Place with me Fern Cotton. |
| 0:05.2 | This is the show that really celebrates individuality. |
| 0:08.6 | Today I'm chatting to Adam Pearson. |
| 0:11.1 | To embrace the normals to accept mediocrity, I have no interest in being mediocre. |
| 0:16.7 | I just find it such an unremarkable word. |
| 0:19.8 | What kid stands up on Career Day? |
| 0:22.0 | Looks their teacher dead in the face and says, |
| 0:23.8 | just want to be normal. |
| 0:25.5 | You know, wife, two kids, dogs, 36 grand a year. |
| 0:29.3 | That's what I want, Mrs. McMullen. |
| 0:32.3 | Yep, and then sits back down again. |
| 0:34.5 | Why wouldn't you feel normal if you were born to be extraordinary? |
| 0:37.7 | Oh, crakey. Do you know what? I'm not going to lie. I've been burning the candle at both ends. |
| 0:43.5 | I'm so tired today. Do you know what I've been doing though this year? I've been pushing myself out |
| 0:48.1 | my comfort zone and I've been doing a lot more socialising than I normally would at this time of year |
| 0:52.6 | and I'm really enjoying it. |
| 0:58.8 | And what I'm finding is, yes, I might be a little bit ropy around the edges today. |
| 1:02.0 | Shouldn't have drunk Nogronies on a Monday night. |
| 1:02.6 | Shouldn't. |
| 1:03.5 | Shouldn't have done that. |
| 1:05.3 | But I don't regret it. |
| 1:09.3 | It was so fun and I had such a laugh with some friends and I need to do that. |
... |
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