Marissa Bode is Making History as First Wheelchair User in ‘Wicked’

Marissa Bode is making history as the first wheelchair user to portray a role in Wicked—here’s why that’s a huge win for representation.

Wicked is set to be one of this year’s most talked-about films. The musical is already making headlines with massive promotional efforts and an impressive cast. The latest buzz is all about American actress Marissa Bode, who is breaking new ground as the first wheelchair user to play Elphaba’s (Cynthia Erivo) sister.

Bode is making history by portraying Elphaba’s disabled sister, Nessarose. She’s the first wheelchair user to play this role, paving the way for more aspiring disabled actors. “I think it should set a precedent for casting in the future—not just for me, but for my fellow disabled talent out there,” she told E! News. “Even just on the carpet today, seeing other disabled people and their love for Wicked, and hearing them say how much it means to them—it means the world to me.”

Bode is a queer American actress from Wisconsin, now living in Los Angeles, CA. She became disabled after a car crash at age 11 and began her acting career at eight. Growing up, she says there wasn’t much representation on screen. When asked what it was like to see a disabled actor on screen, she said: “It was just seeing a disabled character in general because there wasn’t much of that for me growing up. But when I did see it, it really meant a lot because I thought, ‘Oh, it’s possible. There’s a place for me here.’”

Now, she’s set to be a role model for the next generation of disabled people of color, thanks to her role as Nessarose. “To be that representation for not only disabled people but disabled people of color is so exciting and surreal,” she told DIVA.

The first part of Wicked hits theaters on November 22.