People & achievements · England
Actors on stage and screen
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Meet Sarah Gordy, Tommy Jessop and Leon Harrop.
Your own interests and achievements matter too.
Acting tells stories
Actors play people in stories.
They may work on television, in films or in theatres.
Sarah Gordy
Sarah acted in the television programme Ralph & Katie.
She also acted in Jellyfish at the National Theatre.
Tommy Jessop
Tommy played Terry Boyle in Line of Duty.
He has also played Hamlet on stage.
Leon Harrop
Leon played Ralph in Ralph & Katie.
He has acted in many television programmes.
Leon says practising his lines helps.
He says Easy Read scripts can help too.
What would you like to try?
You could join a drama group or make a short film.
You could also enjoy watching a show.
Ask about the support you need.
You can ask about the cost before joining.
Tell someone what you would like to try.
You can take your time.
What you can do next
Choose a story that interests you.
You can ask someone to explore the links with you.
Read Sarah’s story about acting Web pageThis link opens another website.
It may use harder words.
More useful links
- Sarah Gordy: her story about becoming an actor Web page
Mencap interview, 23 June 2026. Sarah discusses Ralph & Katie and Jellyfish.
- Tommy Jessop: acting on television and stage Web page
Mencap profile published in 2022, describing his roles and achievements.
- Leon Harrop: an interview about acting Web page
United Response interview, 25 July 2024, including Leon’s advice about learning lines.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
Actors on stage and screen
Meet Sarah Gordy, Tommy Jessop and Leon Harrop.
For readers in England · People and achievements may be from other countries
Sarah Gordy: television and theatre
Sarah Gordy has Down syndrome. She co-starred in the BBC series Ralph & Katie. She also played the lead in Jellyfish at the National Theatre. In her Mencap interview, Sarah describes the work she is proud of and how her acting career developed.
Tommy Jessop: different roles
Tommy Jessop has Down syndrome. He played Terry Boyle in Line of Duty and has performed Hamlet on stage. Mencap’s profile describes his television, film and theatre work. These are examples of past roles, rather than a list of shows currently playing.
Leon Harrop: learning lines and performing
Leon Harrop played Ralph in Ralph & Katie and has appeared in The A Word and other television programmes. In his United Response interview, he discusses acting with a learning disability and explains how practice and Easy Read scripts can help him prepare.
Explore acting in your own way
You could try a local drama group, tell a story, make a short film or enjoy watching a performance. Ask about the group’s approach, accessible scripts, communication support, breaks, travel and costs. You can try something without deciding that it must become a job.
More people to discover
Clearer’s Creators and public voices guide includes presenter and author George Webster, and actor and poet Cian Binchy. The related links also cover learning opportunities, access needs and work.
About the people in this guide
These profiles use public accounts from the people themselves, their representatives or organisations that work with them. Learning disability is used in its English sense, also called intellectual disability. Dyslexia, ADHD or autism alone does not mean someone has a learning disability. People have different support needs and different ambitions.
Words you could use
“I would like to try … Please help me find an opportunity, understand the cost and arrange the support I choose.”
More useful links
- Sarah Gordy: her story about becoming an actor Web page
Mencap interview, 23 June 2026. Sarah discusses Ralph & Katie and Jellyfish.
- Tommy Jessop: acting on television and stage Web page
Mencap profile published in 2022, describing his roles and achievements.
- Leon Harrop: an interview about acting Web page
United Response interview, 25 July 2024, including Leon’s advice about learning lines.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
Where the information comes from
Links checked 2 November 2026.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
- Sarah Gordy: her story about becoming an actor Web page
Mencap interview, 23 June 2026. Sarah discusses Ralph & Katie and Jellyfish.
- Tommy Jessop: acting on television and stage Web page
Mencap profile published in 2022, describing his roles and achievements.
- Leon Harrop: an interview about acting Web page
United Response interview, 25 July 2024, including Leon’s advice about learning lines.
- Mencap: learning disability and learning difficulty Web page
Easy Read explanation of the different terms.