‘Line of Duty’ star Tommy Jessop enlisted the help of Hollywood actors Neve Campbell and Kit Harrington when trying to help his brother make a movie about a superhero with Down’s syndrome.
Tommy Jessop enlists Kit Harington and Neve Campbell to help him make Hollywood movie
The 38-year-old actor - who played murder suspect Terry Boyle in the Jed Mercurio-created police drama, which also stars Martin Compston, 39, Vicky McClure, 40, and Adrian Dunbar, 65 - joined forces with his sibling Will Jessop to get tips and tricks from people like the ‘Scream’ star, 49, and the ‘Game of Thrones’ star, 36, to help get the project greenlit.
In BBC documentary 'Tommy Jessop Goes to Hollywood', Tommy says: “I have watched countless superhero films in the past and I think it’s about time someone with Down syndrome should play a superhero.
"We should always be speaking up for the rights of people with Down syndrome so that we are able to make our own choices in life.”
Tommy tells of other people with the condition - which is a developmental condition caused when people develop an extra chromosome and can lead to physical and mental disabilities - like his cousin Laurent, who he believes has “abilities” others don’t, such as extra “empathy”.
He says: “My cousin, Laurent, has Down syndrome and I’ve always felt with him that he has abilities that I don’t have, and that people with Down syndrome don’t have.
“I think one of those abilities that he has, that I hope would be part of your superhero, is an empathy. He understands quite often how I’m feeling almost before I know I’m feeling it, which I think is amazing. The time is right for a superhero front and centre that has Down syndrome."
In the documentary, Neve enthuses about the film idea, and admits it could “change perspectives”.
She tells the pair: “I love the idea of learning more about people with Down’s, also the idea of changing perspectives, people’s perceptions, or what they believe the story to be as opposed to what your actual life story is.”
The ‘Innocence’ star knows he is already working to change minds about what people with Down’s Syndrome “can do”.
Tommy added: “I am proving that people with Down syndrome can do things.
“We can act. If we are on TV more often, people might start to understand us even better and believe in us. They will start to see we are no different to other people and that we should be treated equally and respected just like everyone else.”
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