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Adam Pearson (actor)

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Adam Pearson
Photograph of Adam Pearson
Adam Pearson at the Berlinale 2024
Born (1985-01-06) 6 January 1985 (age 40)
Croydon, London, England
Alma materBrighton University
Occupations
  • Actor
  • television presenter
  • campaigner

Adam Pearson (born 6 January 1985) is a British actor, television presenter and campaigner. He made his acting debut in the 2013 film Under the Skin.[1] He has neurofibromatosis and has been involved in outreach programmes to prevent bullying associated with visible differences.[2][3]

In 2024, Pearson starred in the film A Different Man. For his performance, he received wide critical acclaim, and was nominated for several awards, including the Independent Spirit Awards.

Early life

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Adam Pearson was born in Croydon, London, on 6 January 1985, along with his identical twin brother, Neil.[4] After he hit his head at the age of five, the resultant bump persisted instead of healing. He was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type I, which causes non-cancerous tumours to grow on nerve tissue. Both Adam and his brother Neil have the condition, which manifests very differently between them.[5]

Career

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Presenting

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The trailer for the Horizon episode "My Amazing Twin", in which Adam starred with his twin brother Neil

Pearson graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Business Management. He had various jobs in television production for the BBC and Channel 4 including the shows The Undateables and Beauty and the Beast.[6] He worked as a researcher for the BBC and Channel 4 before becoming a strand presenter on the first series of Beauty and the Beast: The Ugly Face of Prejudice in 2015 on Channel 4. Pearson stated that he had faced violent confrontation because of his appearance.[7] He was also one of the development team of Beauty and the Beast and consulted on the Dutch version of the series.

Pearson has worked on all five series of The Undateables for Channel 4 as the casting researcher. He has presented the BBC Three documentaries Adam Pearson: Freak Show and The Ugly Face of Disability Hate Crime, and appeared as a reporter in the Channel 4 series Tricks of the Restaurant Trade.[8] He co-hosted the BBC Four documentary Eugenics: Science's Greatest Scandal with Angela Saini in 2019.[9]

Pearson is a regular caller and occasional guest host[10] to The Bedtime Babble On, a radio programme that airs on Spark Sunderland, weeknights from 10pm.[11][12][13]

Pearson was nominated as UK Documentary Presenter of the Year at the 2016 Grierson Awards.[14]

In August 2022, Pearson appeared on Celebrity MasterChef, becoming the first contestant to be eliminated.[15]

Acting

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In 2013, Pearson was cast alongside Scarlett Johansson in Jonathan Glazer's film Under the Skin. He said that he hoped the role would challenge disfigurement stigma.[16] It was in this film that Pearson discovered his enjoyment of acting.[17]

In 2019, Pearson starred in the film Chained for Life (directed by Aaron Schimberg). In 2024 Pearson played a leading role in Schimberg's next movie, A Different Man, alongside Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve. The film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on 21 January 2024.[18] It also screened in Competition at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on 16 February 2024.[19] Pearson said of the film, "In order to challenge stereotypes, they first need to establish they exist".[20]

In May 2025, Pearson was announced to be starring as Joseph Merrick in an upcoming film adaptation of Bernard Pomerance's play, The Elephant Man. Pearson will be the first disabled actor to play this role in a film.[21][22]

Personal life

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Pearson lives in the Addiscombe area of South London.[4] He is a Christian and in September 2020 spoke to Sally Phillips, about reconciling his faith with his disability, in an episode of Sunday Morning Live, remarking "A life without hardship is a life without faith; how can you practise your faith if you aren't walking through the fire?"[23]

Filmography

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Acting roles

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Under the Skin The Deformed Man
2015 Oddity[24] Andrew Galveston Short film
Rodentia Hermes
2017 DRIB Himself
2019 Chained for Life Rosenthal
2022 Ruby Splinter Adam
2024 A Different Man Oswald

Presenting

Year Title Notes
2015 The Ugly Face of Disability Hate Crime BBC Three
2015–2018 Tricks of the Restaurant Trade Channel 4
2016 Adam Pearson: Freak Show BBC Three
2019 Eugenics: Science's Greatest Scandal[25] BBC Four

Television appearances

Year Title Channel Notes
2016 Horizon: "My Amazing Twin" BBC Two Self
2017 Celebrity Eggheads BBC Two Contestant
2018 Pointless Celebrities BBC One Contestant
2019 Celebrity Mastermind BBC One Self
2022 Celebrity Masterchef BBC One Contestant
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip[26] BBC One Self
2024 Christmas University Challenge BBC Two Team captain

Awards and nominations

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Year Awards Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2024 Gotham Awards Outstanding Supporting Performance A Different Man Nominated [27]
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Best Supporting Performance Runner-up[a] [28]
Chicago Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actor Nominated [29]
Florida Film Critics Circle Best Supporting Actor Nominated [30]
2025 Independent Spirit Awards Best Supporting Performance Nominated [31]

Notes

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  1. ^ Shared with Clarence Maclin for Sing Sing

References

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  1. ^ Emilia Papadopoulos (8 September 2014), BBC London: Adam Pearson stars with Scarlett Johansson, retrieved 20 May 2016
  2. ^ Mike McCahill (16 March 2014). "Under the Skin: Loving the alien". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  3. ^ "Changing Faces". changingfaces.org.uk. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  4. ^ a b George, Sarah (20 October 2017). "How TV presenter Adam Pearson is helping children 'embrace their differences'". Croydon Advertiser.
  5. ^ "Identical Twins Who Look Nothing Alike" on YouTube
  6. ^ Amie Mulderrig (15 October 2014). "Actor Adam Pearson on disfigurement, working with Jonathan Glazer and nude scenes with Scarlett Johansson". East London and West Essex Guardian Series. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  7. ^ Greenwood, Carl (23 July 2015). "Adam Pearson reveals the cruel treatment he faces at hands of bullies". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  8. ^ "Speakers | Business Disability Forum". Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  9. ^ Pearson, Adam; Saini, Angela. "Eugenics: Science's Greatest Scandal". BBC Four. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  10. ^ @sparksunderland (23 August 2020). "@HaydenBeckett is back in Yorkshire visiting some family this week, so @KaiJValentine has brought in reinforcements! Actor & Broadcaster @Adam_Pearson will be co-hosting & answering your calls on Tuesday nights show. Who fancies a chat? 🧡📻" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 August 2020 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ @sparksunderland (26 March 2020). "Coming up: Actor, Presenter & Disability Campaigner @Adam_Pearson joins @KaiJValentine on the phone to discuss the #COVID19Bill and how it is going to affect social care for people living with disabilities in the U.K. #ThursdayBreakfast 107FM 📻 http://sparksunderland.com 💻" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 July 2020 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ @sparksunderland (10 April 2020). "LISTENER APOLOGISES Actor & Presenter @Adam_Pearson calls into #FridayBreakfast's dedicated apology booth. Adam explains to @KaiJValentine he wants to say sorry to his brother Neil. 107FM 📻http://sparksunderland.com 💻" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 July 2020 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ @sparksunderland (10 July 2020). "Actor & disability campaigner @Adam_Pearson just called into #BedtimeBabble to discuss his latest issues with disability casting within the film industry. You can find more details here, and listen to his chat with @KaiJValentine & @HaydenBeckett on demand again tomorrow" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 July 2020 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ "The Grierson Trust - Nominations". Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  15. ^ Brazier, Tori (31 August 2022). "Celebrity MasterChef's Adam Pearson apologises to viewers after being eliminated first: 'I let us down'". Metro. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  16. ^ Day, Elizabeth (12 April 2014). "How Scarlett Johansson helped me challenge disfigurement stigma". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  17. ^ "Adam Pearson is ready to roll the dice". AP News. 25 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  18. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (6 December 2023). "Sundance Unveils Packed 2024 Lineup That Includes A.I., Pedro Pascal, Kristen Stewart, Satan, Devo & Steven Yeun". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  19. ^ Ntim, Zac (22 January 2024). "Berlin Reveals 2024 Competition Lineup: Rooney Mara, Mati Diop, Isabelle Huppert, Abderrahmane Sissako Movies Among Selection". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  20. ^ Lopez, Kristen (21 September 2024). ""A Different Man" shatters tropes around disfigurement and ableism". Salon. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  21. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (1 May 2025). "'A Different Man' Star Adam Pearson to Play Joseph Merrick in 'The Elephant Man' Film Adaptation (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  22. ^ Pulver, Andrew (1 May 2025). "A Different Man's Adam Pearson to star in new film of The Elephant Man". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  23. ^ "Adam Pearson talks Faith, Acting and Disability with Sally Philips". YouTube. 6 September 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  24. ^ "Oddity". Worcestershire Film Festival. 7 November 2015. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  25. ^ Pearson, Adam; Saini, Angela. "Eugenics: Science's Greatest Scandal". BBC Four. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  26. ^ "Celebrity Antiques Road Trip". radiotimes.com. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  27. ^ Goldsmith, Jill; Hipes, Patrick (2 December 2024). "Gotham Awards: A24's 'A Different Man' Wins Best Feature; 'Sing Sing', 'Nickel Boys' Also Score – Full Winners List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  28. ^ Richlin, Harrison (8 December 2024). "'Anora' Wins Best Picture from Los Angeles Film Critics Association — Winners List". IndieWire. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  29. ^ Neglia, Matt (11 December 2024). "The 2024 Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  30. ^ Neglia, Matt (20 December 2024). "The 2024 Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  31. ^ Schwartz, Missy; Pond, Steve (4 December 2024). "'Anora,' 'I Saw the TV Glow' Lead 2025 Indie Spirit Awards Nominations". The Wrap. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
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