SIGN OF THE TIMES
Ex-Hollyoaks star Rachel Shenton wins her first Academy Award at the Oscars 2018 – and reveals the reason she delivered her speech in sign language
EX–HOLLYOAKS actress Rachel Shenton has come a long way from Chester after winning her first Oscar at this year’s ceremony.
The 30-year-old Stoke-born actress, who is known to most as Mitzeee Minniver in the Channel 4 soap, was shaking as she accepted her award with fiancé Chris Overton at tonight’s ceremony.
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Rachel accepted her award by making her speech in sign language to thank the Academy and those who helped her get her award for Best Live Action Short Film.
The Silent Child tells the story of four-year-old Libby, who is taught sign language by her social worker as she can’t speak.
She picked up her award alongside her fiancé Chris Overton, who worked on the film with her.
Speaking on the stage, she said: "I made a promise to our six year old lead actress that I would sign this speech but my hands are shaking a little bit, so I apologise."
"Our movie is about a deaf child being born into a world of silence. It's not exaggerated or sensationalised for the movies this is happening.
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Rachel learned sign language following the death of her father, who lost his hearing after having chemotherapy when she was just 12.
"Millions of children all over the world live in silence and face communication barriers - and particularly access to education."
"So deafness is a silent disability, you can't see it and it's not life threatening, so I want to say the biggest of thank yous for the Academy for allowing us to put this in front of a mainstream audience," she added.
The pair also thanked their parents and those who helped fund the project on Indiegogo - which helped them create the film on a £10,000 budget.
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The Shape of Water won the biggest gong of the night tonight as they bagged Best Film in the final award of the night.
While Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri was the expected winner of the gong, the film still took home some of the biggest awards of the evening including Sam Rockwell for Best Supporting Actor, and Frances McDormand for Best Leading Actress.
As she accepted her award, Frances took the moment to celebrate women who were nominated, and in a bold statement in the midst of the Time’s Up movement, invited all female nominees to stand in solidarity with her during her speech.
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The British also won big during the evening – with WWII epics Dunkirk and The Darkest Hour both bringing home a number of gongs.
After decades in the industry, Gary Oldman finally achieved his first Oscar for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in The Darkest Hour.
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Rachel with her six-year-old co-star Maisie Sly
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The star found her name as the troublesome Mitzee in Hollyoaks
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Rachel Shenton's rise from Hollyoaks to Oscar winner for The Silent Child
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