Keely Cat-Wells (born 1996 or 1997) is a British entrepreneur, disability rights advocate, and writer. She is the founder of C Talent, a talent agency focused on representing disabled actors,[1][2] for which she was honored as part of Forbes 30 Under 30 North America in 2021.[3]
Early life and education
editCat-Wells grew up on a farm in West Sussex, England.[5][6] As a child, she struggled in school; she was diagnosed with dyslexia at age 8. She enjoyed dance and acting, and first planned to become a professional dancer and actor.[1][5] However, at age 17, six months after beginning school at a performing arts college, she became ill and needed to be hospitalized.[1][5] After initial struggles for a diagnosis and multiple surgeries on her colon,[5] in 2016 she underwent an ileostomy.[7] She was also later diagnosed with PTSD from her experiences with chronic illness.[1][5]
Career
editCat-Wells began working at a London-based talent agency while recovering from her ileostomy, first as an intern and then as the head of children's talent.[5]
In 2017, Cat-Wells visited Los Angeles to audition for a film.[5] She was offered the role, which was later rescinded following a fitting where a bikini revealed her ileostomy bag.[1][2][5] She relocated to Los Angeles in 2018, where she became involved with the disabled acting community and decided to found C Talent, a talent agency focused on representing disabled actors, writers, and producers.[2][5] The company was acquired by Whalar in 2022, at which point it represented 85 disabled creators.[7] Cat-Wells remained involved as the president of Whalar's C Talent division.[8]
In the early 2020s, Cat-Wells began working on Zetta Studios, a UK-based film studio that aims to be fully accessible.[5]
In December 2021, Cat-Wells was a speaker at the International Paralympic Committee's 2021 Inclusion Summit.[9]
In early 2022, Cat-Wells participated in the first Mental Health Youth Action Forum at the White House.[10]
She later co-founded Making Space Media with Sophie Morgan.[11][12]
Awards and recognition
editCat-Wells is a member of the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100.[13]
In 2020, Cat-Wells was named one of Aerie's #AerieReal Changemakers.[5]
In 2021, Cat-Wells was a Diana Award recipient[14] and a member of Forbes 30 Under 30 North America.[3]
Cat-Wells was one of six young activists honored at the 2022 Young Activists Summit.[15] That same year, she was also one of five entrepreneurs honored as part of the One Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Award.[16]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Tse, Catherine (2023-06-16). "Keely Cat-Wells Is on a Mission to Make Hollywood More Inclusive". SUCCESS. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ a b c "Designing transformative solutions for disability inclusion". OHCHR.
- ^ a b "Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe 2021: Entertainment". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ "Keely Cat-Wells". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Norlian, Allison (2020-09-18). "She Was Denied An Acting Role Because Of Her Disability. Now She Runs An Agency Representing Disabled Actors". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ Cat-Wells, Keely (2022-12-15). "I Lost Out on a Job Due to My Disability — I Became an Activist So That No One Else Has To". Global Citizen. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ a b Weiss, Geoff. "C Talent, an agency for deaf and disabled creators, is making the business case for inclusion and pushing the industry to move beyond 'inspiration porn'". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ Whalar. "Whalar Acquires Award-Winning Disabled-led Talent Management and Consultancy Company, C Talent". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ "Stellar line-up of world class speakers set for 2021 Inclusion Summit". International Paralympic Committee. 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ "Youth Action Forum Participants". Mental Health Is Health. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ White, Abbey (2023-08-18). "How Hello Sunshine and Making Space Media's Unscripted First-Look Deal Could Change Hollywood's Disability Narratives". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ Goldbart, Max (2023-08-18). "Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine Partners With Making Space Media On Unscripted Content Placing Disabled Talent Front & Center". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ "Keely Cat-Wells". Shaw Trust Disability Power 100. 2021-10-26. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ "Roll of Honour 2021". The Diana Award. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ "2022 Summit". Young Activists Summit. 2022-09-12. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ "Winners Announced for the One Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2022". One Young World. Retrieved 2024-03-14.