When she won the 1986 Academy Award as Best Actress, she became the first hearing-impaired person to do so. What was her name and the title of the film?

At the 59th Academy Awards, a stunning film debut earned a historic Oscar. Marlee Matlin, then just 21 years old, took home the Best Actress award for her powerful performance in the 1986 drama *Children of a Lesser God*. Her victory was a landmark achievement, as she was the first deaf performer to win an Academy Award for acting and remains the only deaf winner in the Best Actress category.

The film, based on the successful stage play of the same name, tells the story of a passionate relationship between a speech teacher at a school for the deaf and a defiant young deaf woman named Sarah Norman, played by Matlin. Her portrayal was critically acclaimed for its raw emotion and intensity, a complex performance conveyed entirely through American Sign Language and powerful physical expression. Her co-star, William Hurt, also received a Best Actor nomination for his role.

Matlin's win was not only groundbreaking but also record-setting. At 21, she became the youngest person to ever win the Best Actress Oscar, a record she still holds today. The award launched a long and successful career for Matlin as both an actress and a prominent advocate for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, paving the way for future generations of performers.