Representation is important. For members of the deaf community, they can see one of their own playing a deaf role on the big screen in Marvel’s “Eternals.”

It’s leaving an impact beyond the box office.

Lauren Ridloff, who’s deaf herself, plays Makkari, a superhero. The character isn’t someone overcoming a disability, but someone thriving because of their differences.

“It took a while for it to finally get that barrier breaking down,” said David Wantuck, who teaches American Sign Language, deaf studies and deaf culture at Niagara University. “But I think with this role this movie, it shows what deaf actors, deaf actresses can do.”

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