Run Away star says that “right steps” are being taken for disability representation – but more needs to be done

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I was totally hooked by Run Away! It actually hit number one on Netflix worldwide for a while, and it’s easy to see why. It’s got that classic Harlan Coben style – a dad desperately looking for his daughter, but things quickly get way more complicated and mysterious. It’s full of twists that keep you guessing, and I couldn’t stop watching!

Besides how fans reacted to the plot twists, the show has sparked a lot of online discussion about Anya, played by Ellie Henry. Henry, who previously starred in Hollyoaks, plays one of James Nesbitt’s children in the series. After the show aired, some viewers commented on social media, questioning why Henry uses a wheelchair.

Honestly, as a film and TV fan, it’s really encouraging to see people like Henry speaking up and showing the world what life is like using an ambulatory wheelchair. She’s incredibly resilient, brushing off any negativity and just doing it. She thinks British TV is slowly getting better at representing disability, which is great, but she’s right – we still have a long way to go. There’s always room to show more diverse stories and perspectives, and I’m hopeful we’ll continue to see progress.

She added that while they’re making progress, the on-screen representation of disabled people doesn’t quite align with real-world statistics. She believes that increased visibility of disabled people in media can lead to more positive attitudes towards them in general.

We just need to be given the chance to audition. Actors with disabilities are out there – we’re real people, and my agency specializes in representing us, so finding us isn’t hard. The key is having a casting director who’s willing to consider actors of all abilities.

She’s optimistic about future roles and wants to play characters where disability isn’t the central focus. She hopes to see more diverse representation, like wheelchair users portrayed as complex individuals – perhaps a drug dealer, a criminal, or even a mother – simply living full lives, rather than being defined by their disability.

People often focus solely on the wheelchair, but experiences like working on ‘Run Away’ have proven that doesn’t have to be the limit. I’m hoping for many more opportunities where people see me for who I am, beyond any physical limitations.

While Anya’s story isn’t the main focus of the fast-paced thriller, Henry notes she’s gotten a lot of encouraging messages from people who use wheelchairs or have similar disabilities.

Henry shared his excitement about the positive response to ‘Run Away,’ explaining that many viewers have reached out on Instagram. They’ve told him they share the same disability and finally feel seen on screen, which means a lot to them. He relates to this, saying that as a young aspiring actor, he didn’t see much representation of people with disabilities and wondered if a career in acting was even possible for him.

Throughout my training and auditions, I constantly worried whether my background would hold me back from getting work. Thankfully, our fantastic casting director, Orla Maxwell – who also cast ‘Run Away’ – believed in me and gave me the job anyway.

She explained that the character Anya wasn’t originally written as a wheelchair user, but the casting directors focused on her ability to portray the role convincingly. She’s glad they prioritized her acting skills over the character’s physical abilities, believing that whether Anya used a wheelchair or not shouldn’t have been a deciding factor.

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Ugh, so frustrating! It looks like Google’s reCAPTCHA is blocking me from seeing whatever’s behind this wall. Apparently, I need to log out of Contentpass first to get it to work. Honestly, sometimes these security things just get in the way of enjoying a good watch!

You can now watch Run Away on Netflix, with subscriptions starting at just £5.99 per month. Netflix is also accessible through Sky Glass and Virgin Media.

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Authors

Morgan CormackDrama Writer

Morgan Cormack writes about TV and streaming drama for TopMob. Before that, she was an Entertainment Writer at Stylist. She also has experience in content marketing and freelancing, and holds a degree in English Literature.

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2026-01-09 20:36