Siren: The Voices of Shelley Beattie w/ Irene Taylor Q&A

Siren: The Voices of Shelley Beattie (2026). Directed by Irene Taylor. 1hr 43min. This film will be shown with open captions, and the Q&A will have ASL interpretation. Join us for the Portland Premiere of Irene Taylor‘s latest film, Siren: The Voices of Shelley Beattie. Following the screening, Irene Taylor will join us for a moderated Q&A. While searching the internet one day, Hollywood veteran Marlee Matlin came upon the story of athlete Shelley Beattie – a fellow deaf woman whose life felt eerily like her own. Both women had experienced adventure and fame, but also discrimination, abuse, and addiction while navigating a hearing world. SIREN: THE VOICES OF SHELLEY BEATTIE explores the parallels between the two legendary women in a haunting portrait of strength, beauty, and resiliency. Guided by Academy Award® winner Matlin, the film utilizes a wealth of archival footage, home video, intimate interviews, and Beattie’s striking personal artwork to convey her vibrant personality and voice. Matlin sought out acclaimed documentary filmmaker Irene Taylor who has been exploring themes of hearing loss and family in many of her award-winning films for decades. Together Taylor and Matlin decided to excavate Shelly’s extraordinary story. By bringing Beattie’s story to light, Matlin and Taylor illuminate how the hearing world can be an isolating and cruel place for those who are deaf. Beattie found safety by protecting herself with a strong, physical exterior, then became a top international bodybuilder in the 1990s, and starred as the character “Siren” on TV’s hugely popular “American Gladiators”. But beneath her tough armor was a troubled and sensitive spirit. The film traces Beattie’s early challenges with deafness in a family that struggled to understand her, detailing her journey to breaking barriers in sports and media, and highlighting her advocacy for mental health awareness all before her death at 40 years old. Matlin’s quest to learn about Beattie is an exploration into what it takes to overcome inner demons and personal struggles, while turning deafness into a strength to transcend limitations and shatter boundaries.