Marlee Matlin Captures Granddaughter’s Heartwarming First in Sweet Video originally appeared on Parade.
Though she’s an Academy Award-winning actor with dozens upon dozens of film and television credits to her name, the most important role in Marlee Matlin’s life is that of grandmother.
The groundbreaking star, best known for her portrayals of deaf women, became a first-time grandmother in May 2024 when her daughter, Sarah, gave birth to a baby girl, Brooklyn Rose. Since then, Matlin has cherished every moment, sharing so many of her granddaughter’s milestones on Instagram where fans have celebrated right alongside them.
During a recent outing, Brooklyn, who is nearing 15 months, experienced another first with her grandmother. In a sweet video Matlin posted to Instagram, Brooklyn can be seen taking in the bright lights of a merry-go-round on her grandmother’s lap— or “Nana” as Matlin calls herself in the caption.
Fans couldn’t resist the pure joy on Brooklyn’s angelic face, nor Matlin’s excitement to introduce her granddaughter to one of the most enduring childhood rides.
“You both are precious together! How sweet!!! ❤️❤️,” commented one fan on Instagram.
“This new chapter suits you beautifully 💖🤟🏼,” wrote another.
“Look at her taking it all in! She’s adorable 😍❤️,” said a third.
Matlin started acting as a child, but didn’t make her film debut until 1986 when she starred in Children of a Lesser God along with William Hurt, Piper Laurie and Philip Bosco. The film, for which Matlin won the Academy Award for Best Actress, told the love story of a speech teacher and a deaf custodian at a school for the deaf. Matlin, who has been deaf since she was 18 months old, is the first deaf person to ever win an Academy Award.
In a review published at the time of the film’s release, legendary film critic Roger Ebert wrote of Matlin, “she holds her own against the powerhouse she’s acting with, carrying scenes with a passion and almost painful fear of being rejected and hurt, which is really what her rebellion is about.”
Since then, Matlin has gone on to start in countless films and television series, including The West Wing, The L Word, Switched at Birth, and CODA. Though Matlin is a fierce advocate for the deaf community, being deaf has never defined her, nor has it prevented her from taking on challenging, complex roles.
In August 2025, director Shoshannah Stern released a documentary about Matlin’s life entitled Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore. The film, which is in theaters across the UK and Australia, marks the first time she’s telling her story, including the challenges of being an actor in an industry that is dominated by hearing people.
In a recent interview, Matlin said of the film, “I felt like it was time to tell my story from my perspective, through my hands.”
Marlee Matlin Captures Granddaughter’s Heartwarming First in Sweet Video first appeared on Parade on Aug 17, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
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