Marlee Matlin is an American actress, author, and activist. She is the only deaf performer to win an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, which she won in 1986 for her performance in Children of a Lesser God. She has also appeared in several television shows and films, including The West Wing, Seinfeld, and Bridge to Silence. Matlin is an advocate for the rights of people with disabilities and is a member of the National Association of the Deaf.