‘You can still be as good as anybody else’

Nenagh wheelchair user pursues acting and modelling dream

Nenagh wheelchair user Emer Hourigan is refusing to allow disability get in the way of her dream of becoming an actress.

Emer (37) recently landed a role as an extra in ‘The Miracle Club’, which is presently screening in cinemas. Her scene is set in Lourdes in the 1920s and she was given a wheelchair of the period along with '20s clothing and hairstyle.

Though making only a brief appearance in the film, which was shot in Wicklow, Emer thoroughly enjoyed being part of it and working with the crew and cast, which includes Hollywood star Kathy Bates.

“It was a fantastic experience,” she said. “Kathy Bates was amazing. She was such a sweetheart on the day. It was absolutely bitter cold and she kept coming over with my blanket that I had to keep warm.

“Even though it was such a small part, it was an amazing experience.”

It has left Emer hungry for further opportunities in acting. She always wanted to be an actress or a model. A car accident at the age of 19 left her in a wheelchair but in the years since, Emer has learned not to let disability define her and not to allow it prevent her from pursuing her goals.

She entered a modelling competition, which she won, leading her to a meeting with Pippa O'Connor and photo-shooting for her POCO fashion range. That led to appearances in Xposé and VIP magazines, and an online feature on Dublin Live.

Andrea Roche's agency AR then hired Emer for more modelling work. Her appearance in ‘The Miracle Club’ came about after the filmmakers contacted the agency in search of wheelchair users as extras.

Emer speaks of watching films with her husband Thomas and commenting on how obvious it is to her that actors playing wheelchair characters are not natural to the role. “I think that with all the wheelchair people in the world, surely they could have got someone to actually realistically play the part!” she said.

CHALLENGING PERCEPTIONS

Emer certainly hopes her brief film appearance will open doors to further acting opportunities. Her experience with modelling has left her quite comfortable in front of the camera and given her the confidence to do what she has always yearned to.

“If you're in a wheelchair, you can still be as good as anybody else,” Emer reasoned. “I'm trying to open up opportunities for myself while I'm still young and I'm in good shape,” she said, adding that she interested in physical fitness and works out to stay in shape.

“I don't speak for everybody in wheelchairs or with disabilities; I speak for myself when I say that people do have a perception of somebody in a wheelchair or with a disability. You're instantly categorised, whether you like it or not, and whether people mean to or not.

“I just find that I wish people treated me a bit differently. All these little steps are my way of showing people that it can be done and we're just as good as anyone else if we get the chance.”

The mother of one daughter has found that attitudes in general towards wheelchair users have improved in that time since she began using one. She said Nenagh is much easier to get around now in terms of footpaths and traffic control, though she added that the town could be better served with toilet facilities for wheelchair users.

Emer spoke of a better realisation of the role wheelchair users can play in society.

She hopes to continue playing her part in both acting and modelling, and would welcome the opportunity to discuss further work in either area with interested parties.