Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur on How 'CODA's SAG Award Wins Pave the Way for Deaf Performers (Exclusive)

Deaf representation has taken a major step forward with two Oscar-nominated films this year — one a fictional story, the other entirely real.

Clayton Davis “CODA” is on the rise as Oscar voting gets underway — and writer and director Siân Heder admits she’s surprised by the love and adoration the film has received in recent months.That includes, most recently, her BAFTA win for adapted screenplay. On the latest episode of the award-winning “Variety Awards Circuit Podcast,” we talk to Heder about what it feels like to be an Oscar-nominated filmmaker, and working with her talented cast, which includes the Oscar-nominated Troy Kotsur, along with Oscar-winner Marlee Matlin, Emilia Jones and Daniel Durant.

Marlee Matlin reflected on William Hurt’s death during a brief interview with Entertainment Tonight at the Critics Choice Awards. Hurt died March 13 at 71 years old following a battle with prostate cancer. Matlin and Hurt starred opposite one another in the 1986 drama "Children of a Lesser God," which won Matlin the Oscar for best actress.The two performers began dating when Matlin was 19 years old and Hurt was 35.

Marlee Matlin is opening up about the passing of William Hurt.

Oscar winner Marlee Matlin is set to make her directorial debut in an episode of Fox’s new anthology drama series Accused, from Homeland EPs Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa, and Howard Shore (The Good Doctor, House).

[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]

Zack Sharf Marlee Matlin reflected on William Hurt’s death during a brief interview with Entertainment Tonight at the Critics Choice Awards. Hurt died March 13 at 71 years old following a battle with prostate cancer. Matlin and Hurt starred opposite one another in the 1986 drama “Children of a Lesser God,” which won Matlin the Oscar for best actress.

While on the red carpet for the 2022 Critics’ Choice Awards on Sunday, March 14, Marlee Matlin, 56, was asked about the death of her ex William Hurt. “You’re the first person to ask me about him,” the Deaf actress said via sign language to an Entertainment Tonight reporter. Marlee, after taking a brief pause, went on to speak fondly about William, whom she previously accused of sexual assault.

Andrew Garfield and Marlee Matlin are hamming it up on the red carpet!

Academy Award nominees were honored at the annual Oscars luncheon on Monday, which celebrated the biggest names in this year's most-celebrated films. That meant stars like Will Smith, Denzel Washington and Bradley Cooper brushing elbows on the red carpet, Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz enjoying a day date to celebrate their respective nominations, and plenty more star-studded moments.For star Marlee Matlin, this year's Oscars is a bit of a full-circle event.

Troy Kotsur is on a winning streak!

The cast of CODA was represented at the 2022 Hollywood Critics Association Film Awards on Monday (February 28) at Avalon in Hollywood.

Marlee Matlin is proud of the strides deaf actors have made.

In an upset, the deaf family drama “CODA” took top honors at an unpredictable and history-making 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards that also saw wins for the leads of “Squid Game," the cast of “Ted Lasso” and Will Smith.The ceremony, held Sunday at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, and broadcast on both TNT and TBS, was notably border-breaking, with historic wins for deaf actors, Korean stars and some of Hollywood's biggest names. It culminated with “CODA," Sian Heder's heartwarming Apple TV+ coming-of-age film featuring a trio of deaf actors in Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur and Daniel Durant, along with newcomer Emilia Jones, winning best ensemble.

It was a night when the pundit-predicted Oscar-season frontrunners The Power of the Dog and Belfast came up empty, and longer shots like CODA and The Eyes of Tammy Faye won key races that promise to add a bit more suspense as we glide toward the Oscars.

Clayton Davis The SAG Awards may have signaled a shift in the Oscar season and the switch of support for the streamers.After landing 12 Oscar nominations, Netflix’s “The Power of the Dog” looked to be the odds-on favorite to win best picture, a prize the streamer has coveted since its historic run for “Roma” (2018). However, the streaming giant went home empty-handed on the film side of the house, just one year after becoming the second studio to garner the most nominations for ensemble with three.Apple Original Films’ “CODA” had a momentous evening, winning cast ensemble and supporting actor for Troy Kotsur, who’s the first deaf actor ever to be nominated and win.