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Dodger actor Lenny Rush has explained how his appearance on screens has impacted the families of disabled children.
Ten-year-old Lenny has Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia congenita a condition that affects his growth, resulting in dwarfism.
As well as playing Morgan in the CBBC series which is returning for specials later this year, Lenny plays Ollie in BBC dark comedy Am I Being Unreasonable? starring Daisy May Cooper.
He’s also played Tiny Tim in the BBC adaptation of A Christmas Carol, after rising to fame in documentary Our Family.
Speaking exclusively to Metro.co.uk, Lenny revealed how proud he is to be representing the disabled community on screen, something which he admitted is quite ‘rare’ to see.
He told us: ‘I’m proud because you don’t, it’s a shame, but you don’t see many. It is getting better, it’s getting better and better.
Lenny plays Morgan in the CBBC series (Picture: BBC/NBCUniversal International Studios)
He also stars in Daisy May Cooper’s Am I Being Unreasonable? (Picture: Boffola Pictures/James Pardon)
‘But yeah I mean it’s sort of it’s still quite rare to see in my opinion, so I’m proud to be representing them and hopefully it brings more people in.’
As well as this, Lenny shared how important it is for families, and mums especially, to see him on screen.
He said: ‘When I was younger, things seemed way worse than they were.
‘When I was younger, things seemed way worse than they were,’ he told us (Picture: BBC/NBCUniversal International Studios)
‘They will get out of it and it will be good’ (Picture: BBC/Boffola Pictures/Simon Ridgway)
‘So, I think it’s good for mums as well, if they’ve got any kids with a disability, and it seems like the worst, you know they’ll be able to see people like me and feel they will get out of it and it will be good.’
The rising star has previously spoken about being a disabled actor.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain, he was asked by presenter Kate Garraway if he is proud to be ‘breaking barriers’ with his acting roles.
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Lenny replied that was ‘proud’, adding: ‘I think disability or not I think anyone can play a role.
‘I think it’s good for people with disabilities to have the same opportunities that other people do, because why not?’
Dodger Train Special airs this Sunday, November 27 on CBBC at 5:30pm and the Dodger Christmas Special airs on Sunday, December 4 on CBBC at 5.35pm.
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‘They will get out of it and it will be good’
