Rose Ayling-Ellis held back tears as she reflected on how her mum Donna was insistent on teaching her British Sign Language despite experts advising her not to.
As she applauded her mum’s support, Rose wasn’t the only one who was moved to tears as those watching were also emotional.
“Like many deaf children, I think I was struggling with the question ‘where do I belong?'” Rose explained as she detailed how she’d felt growing up.
She added: “Then when I was 15, mum found me a weekend workshop for deaf teenagers. Originally, I didn’t want to go, but mum forced me to go.
“She was like, ‘Go, go, it will be good for you to go,’ but I was 15 at the time and I felt, ‘I’m too old for this.’
READ MORE: Rose Ayling-Ellis reduced to tears in ‘moving’ moment
“Growing up, I would have loved to have had more deaf friends and I think my mum wanted that too.
“So I went. I felt in a safe space because it was all full of deaf children, there was no one hearing there.
“And I remember we wrote a little play and I started acting, and then I completely fell in love with acting.”
Becoming emotional, the 28-year-old former EastEnders star added: “It’s funny because you wouldn’t think it at the time, but that was a really profound moment in my life.
“I never, ever considered acting as a career for me ever until that weekend.
“Mum did not want me to grow up not being confident and I think she was really determined I was confident in who I am – my mum did that.”
Holding back tears, Rose added: “Oh, gosh,” as her voice broke with emotion.
BBC viewers were also tearful as they responded to the moving documentary.
Twitter user @eerosegio penned: “I don’t quite have the words rn but I’m so moved. what an incredible documentary #signsforchange.”
@francescajayne_ added: “Everyone should be watching the @RoseAylingEllis documentary on BBC One. It’s emotional, eye-opening and she’s such an incredibly inspiring woman #SignsForChange.”
“Already emotional at #SignsForChange. Just love @RoseAylingEllis and all that she does. We’re so lucky to have her enlighten us and introduce us to her world,” @sylvia_luisa posted.
@caterinajones wrote: “Yep. Crying. To think this is what my deaf grandparents faced. #SignsForChange.”
“Am watching [a] programme by @RoseAylingEllis on her experience of growing up as a #deaf child in a hearing world. Her mum was told not to let her learn #bsl as she wouldn’t speak. We’ve moved on since then but we need to make the learning of #bsl free to everyone who needs it,” @JoannaTurner8 commented.
@Laurabayl24 stated: “Sat here listening Listening to @RoseAylingEllis and feeling incredibly emotional as a mum to a child with profound hearing loss.
“Amazed by my little Penny developing day by day and removing the stigmas associated with ‘deaf’ people.”
@LeeJFisher1@RoseAylingEllis shared: “You are an inspirational person. #SignsForChange was a very powerful documentary.” (sic)
Rose Ayling-Ellis: Signs for Change is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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