Lauren Potter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lauren Potter
Lauren Potter celebrates at the opening ceremony of the 2015 Special Olympics in Los Angeles.
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 best known for playing Becky Jackson on the popular TV show Glee.

Besides acting, Lauren is also an advocate. This means she works to support people with disabilities. She helps organizations like the Special Olympics and Best Buddies International to spread awareness and create more opportunities for everyone.

Early Life and Education

Lauren Potter was born on May 10, 1990, and grew up in the Inland Empire area of Southern California. When she was born, doctors diagnosed her with Down syndrome, a genetic condition.

It took her until age two to learn how to walk, but she soon started taking dancing and acting classes. After graduating from Riverside Polytechnic High School, she went on to study at Irvine Valley College.

Acting Career

Lauren's acting career began when she was 16 years old. Her first role was in a movie called Mr. Blue Sky.

Success on Glee

From 2009 to 2015, Lauren played Becky Jackson on the TV show Glee. Her character was a cheerleader who also had Down syndrome. The cheerleading coach, Sue Sylvester (played by Jane Lynch), had a special connection with Becky. This was because Sue's own sister also had Down syndrome.

For her work on Glee, Lauren was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) award in 2012. That same year, she also received the SAG/AFTRA Harold Russell Award for her positive portrayal of a character with a disability.

Other Roles

In 2015, Lauren starred in a short film called Guest Room. She played a young woman with Down syndrome who has to deal with a difficult personal situation.

She has also appeared in several other TV shows, including Veep and Chicago Med.

Working as an Advocate

Lauren uses her fame to help others and speak out on important issues. She is a strong voice for people with disabilities.

Advising the President

In 2011, President Barack Obama chose Lauren for a special role. She was appointed to the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.

As part of this 21-member committee, she helped advise the White House on important topics. These included improving education and creating more job opportunities for people with disabilities.

Fighting Against Bullying

Lauren was bullied when she was younger. Now, she works with groups like AbilityPath to help stop bullying.

She also supports the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign. This campaign encourages people to stop using the "R-word" as an insult. She even starred in a commercial with her Glee co-star Jane Lynch to spread this message.

Lauren continues to give speeches across the country to support these causes. She also served as an ambassador for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, where she promoted inclusion and understanding.

Filmography