Feb 27, 2003- Teen actor plays a real life role (Toronto Star)
02/27/2003
Toronto Star
Thursday, February 27, 2003, p. K02
Teen actor plays a real life role
Degrassi star raises awareness about disabilities 'I focus on what I can do and build upon that'
note: DJ's on vacation and unreachable so any queries will have to be addressed by other means (either easter seals contact or Mony herself (# on photo assignment) -queries answered - jb. needs 6-7-inch trim. cv - trimmed jb.
Toronto Star
Mony Yassir can't quite decide which was the most exciting event in her life last year- starting high school or becoming a professional actor.
Mony, 15, is now a card-carrying apprentice member of the ACTRA union (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists), thanks to her role on CTV's Degrassi: The Next Generation.
"I'm very limited in sports. Acting's my way to express myself," says Mony, who appeared in nine episodes of Degrassi that went to air last September. The last episode of this season, which Mony also appeared in, ran last weekend.
Her experience as a child ambassador for the Easter Seal Society of Ontario in 2000, when she wrote and delivered some 50 speeches across the province, helped give Mony the confidence to put together a portfolio and audition for Degrassi.
But landing a part was a close call due to timing.
Mony's agent called last April, just before the Yassir family was heading to the Dominican Republic to recuperate from a year during which Mony spent three months in The Hospital for Sick Children, followed by six months home treatment. It was a difficult time for the family and a painful hospital sojourn for Mony because she had to wear a heavily weighted "halo" designed to straighten her spine.
Luckily the Degrassi producers agreed to wait and two days after arriving home, Mony auditioned.
In her role, Mony plays Nadia, a Grade 7 student who has spent her whole life in a wheelchair. In real life Mony, who was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis at 18 months, also uses a wheelchair, although she can walk short distances with a cane. Her disease is genetic and causes multiple tumours to develop. As a result, Mony has endured nine operations on her leg, hip and spine.
Mony started the Degrassi tapings last June.
"The tapings were very exciting ... It was like a big family. You mess up, it doesn't matter," Mony says. At the studio there were also chaperones and tutors to help with homework.
Mony's mother, Leila Yassir, who has been a rock of support throughout Mony's life, believes it is healthy for teenagers to be introduced to people with disabilities.
"It is good awareness," she says. "Often kids don't know how to deal with people like Mony."
Mony agrees that her appearance on a television show geared to teens may help young viewers realize that someone in a wheelchair has the same goals, hopes and capacity for friendship as an able-bodied person.
Mony's work on Degrassi was so well regarded that the Easter Seals Society presented her with a Roger Abbott and Don Ferguson Award for Achievements in Performing Arts.
"She was an amazing choice as a representative of Easter Seals and through Degrassi she shows others a person with disabilities can do anything," says Ellen Weir, coordinator of the ambassadors' program.
The possibility of stardom, however, never went to Mony's head. "I told them (Degrassi producers) my priority is school and to keep up my marks," says Mony, a Grade 9 student at Don Mills Collegiate.
Mony is thrilled to be in high school and with "the freedom" she is finding there. "Also I've found really good friends and a really good French teacher." French is important to her because her parents, from Beirut, grew up speaking the language.
She is also thankful for her new friend Fotini, who is always there for her whenever Mony is hurt by "mean comments" from other kids.
"She also waits for me. I'm slower than the others," Mony says.
Through her own struggles, Mony has learned to appreciate any opportunities offered.
"I focus on what I can do and build upon that," she says.
Easter Seals has had a major impact on Mony's life. She's has been to an Easter Seals camp eight times, including last summer. There's also been monetary help, equipment supplied and the family has connected with many caring people. On top of that, in her role as ambassador, Mony rubbed shoulders with the famous.
Although she's no longer an official ambassador, Mony still gives talks for Easter Seals.
She confesses that she hopes to be called back to participate in more episodes of Degrassi.
When it comes to the big picture, she has many aspirations.
"Maybe, I'll be a pediatrician. I love children; or a lawyer because I love debating. Maybe an actress," says Mony, who goes to improvisation classes every Saturday at The Second City studio.
Illustration(s):
Steve Russell/toronto star Mony Yassir, 15, drew on her own experience to play Nadia, a student in a wheelchair, on CTV's Degrassi:The Next Generation. Mony also takes improvisation classes at The Second City studio.
HAHAAHAHAHAAHAHAA fotini's my friend too. I hoover her lots