I was asked recently if I was proud of what we achieved in terms of representation in Silent Witness - Oh, my goodness, of course I am!
Liz Carr is frank about her life as a disabled person and the inherent comedy that it brings: "I've had some tuts, which is fantastic...â
She frequently referred to her condition in her stand-up routine as meus thronus kaputus, which is literally translated as âmy seat brokenâ. Wirral-born Carr has used a wheelchair since the age of seven because of arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, which causes congenital limitation of joint movement.
After graduating with a degree in Law from the University of Nottingham, she volunteered in a law centre and became a campaigner for civil rights for disabled people in the UK and internationally.
Carr's first job with the ±«Óătv was as a writer for the disability website Ouch! in 2006, before becoming co-host with actor Mat Fraser of the infamous Ouch! podcast. She did this for seven years, winning a Royal Television Society award along the way.
The podcast talked about disability in a frank and often amusing way. Most controversially, they were known for their ironic quiz Vegetable, Vegetable or Vegetable, where the presenters had to work out what was âwrongâ with the disabled caller on the line.
On screen, Liz is best known for her role as forensic examiner Clarissa Mullery in the ±«Óătv's long running drama, Silent Witness. She joined the series in 2012. This was Liz's first TV acting role and over seven series, her character Clarissa grew from a sidekick to a main part of the regular cast.
She says the ±«Óătv seemed "terrified" about what to do with a disabled actor in primetime drama when she first started, but she made sure her voice was heard.
I've kind of policed the show quite a lot and worked to make sure it was better and refused to say certain lines that I thought were problematic.
