Joey Magidson
When you watch Being Heumann, one of the first things that jump out at you is how Ruth Madeley is portraying Judy Heumann as an imperfect figure. She’s a hero, to be sure, but Judy is also prickly, tough as nails, and not willing to suffer fools. Madeley is an absolute spitfire in the role, helping to make the film entertaining and lively, as well as important. I saw the flick at its world premiere opening the Toronto International Film Festival and was quite taken by it. Last week, after a few scheduling hiccups back in October, I was able to secure some time with Madeley on Zoom. Today, our conversation comes your way.
In my review of the movie from back at TIFF (here), I said the following about Madeley’s performance:
Ruth Madeley is a spitfire here, portraying the General of the movement. Willing to go on a hunger strike and tough as nails, her all business demeanor still allows Madeley to inject Judy with lots of personality. The weight of the role is never lost on her, though she’s still able to make it her own. Madeley is best in show
Below, you can hear my chat with Madeley. We laugh a lot here, befitting a film that has humor and personality, making it far more than a history lesson. The fact that Madeley, who was diagnosed with spina bifida before she was born and is in a wheelchair, loves the role because of said entertainment value says a lot. She’s obviously excellent in the movie, as mentioned above, but she also can sell it quite well. We talk a bunch about the mix within the flick of entertainment and importance, though we go in some fun other directions as well. Being Heumann is in select theaters now and hits Apple TV this weekend, so be sure to check it out as soon as possible. You won’t regret it.
Here now is my interview with Being Heumann star Ruth Madeley. Enjoy:
Being Heumann is in theaters now and available on Apple TV tomorrow!
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