Lauren Potter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lauren Potter
Lauren Potter celebrating the opening ceremony of the LA 2015 Special Olympics at the Coliseum.
Born	Lauren Elizabeth Potter (1990-05-10) May 10, 1990 (age 35) Inland Empire, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, Comedian
Years active	2007–present

Lauren Elizabeth Potter (born May 10, 1990) is an American actress and comedian. She is famous for playing Becky Jackson on the TV show Glee. Lauren also works hard to help people with disabilities. She supports groups like AbilityPath, Best Buddies International, and Special Olympics.

Lauren Potter's Early Life

Lauren Potter was born on May 10, 1990. She grew up in Southern California. When she was born, doctors said she had Down syndrome. She learned to walk when she was two years old. From a young age, she enjoyed dancing and acting classes. She finished high school at Riverside Polytechnic High School. Later, she studied at Irvine Valley College.

Lauren's Acting Career

When Lauren was 16, she got her first acting job. She appeared in a movie called Mr. Blue Sky.

Playing Becky Jackson on Glee

From 2009 to 2015, Lauren played Becky Jackson on the TV show Glee. Becky was a cheerleader with Down syndrome. The cheerleading coach, Sue Sylvester (played by Jane Lynch), cared a lot about Becky. This was partly because Sue's older sister also had Down syndrome.

In 2012, Lauren was nominated for a SAG award. This award was for the best group of actors in a comedy show. She also won the SAG/AFTRA Harold Russell Award.

Working with the President

In November 2011, President Barack Obama chose Lauren for a special committee. This group was called the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. Lauren helped advise the White House on issues important to people with disabilities. The committee discussed topics like education and jobs.

Other Acting Roles

In 2015, Lauren appeared in a short film called Guest Room. She played a young woman with Down syndrome. The film showed her dealing with a difficult situation.

Helping Others

Lauren was an ambassador for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games. These games were held in Los Angeles. She gave speeches and was a role model. She helped spread awareness about including people with disabilities.

When Lauren was younger, she was bullied. Now, she works with AbilityPath to stop bullying. She also works with Special Olympics to promote the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign. This campaign asks people to stop using hurtful words. In 2011, she even made a TV commercial with her Glee co-star Jane Lynch. The commercial was called "Not Acceptable." It asked people to stop using the "R-word."

As of 2016, Lauren continues to travel and give speeches. She speaks up for these important causes across the United States.

Lauren Potter's Filmography