A biography for Rachel Shentonhasn’t been written yet.
“To be honest, the first thing that hits you when you step off the plane in L.A. is just how eager people are to help you out here - or, at least, that's what I've found.”
“With the right support, a deaf child can do exactly the same as a hearing child, yet constantly, they're being failed.”
“I really enjoy being involved in 'Hollyoaks Later' - it's great.”
“Being at the first post-Weinstein Oscars was amazing. It felt like there's a spotlight on diversity.”
“'Switched at Birth' has an amazing cast, including an Oscar winner and two Emmy nominees. The writing is very innovative, and the show's producers have redefined U.S. TV by launching a mainstream show which includes multiple deaf cast members whose characters communicate only in ASL (American Sign Language).”
“The 3,000th episode is a great milestone for 'Hollyoaks,' so it was just really nice and a big honour to play a part in it.”
“At first, I simply wanted to get a basic understanding of sign language, but as time went on, I really got the bug and wanted to become proficient so that I could make good use of my skills.”
“My dad lost his hearing in the last 18 months of his life, and as a result, I witnessed first-hand the effect that this can have on a family.”
“I'd love to do something hard-hitting, like a lawyer or a policewoman, something like that. That would be nice.”
“When you're an actor, it's really great to be busy - that's what we all want!”
“We value 'stuff' quite highly. Why? Because that 'stuff' apparently matters. Not only that, we use it as a measure of how successful we are, and as a result of that, having more of this 'stuff' often determines how people treat us.”
“There are many issues within the deaf community but, for me, none more important than access to education for deaf children.”
“I'm beyond excited to join the cast of 'Switched At Birth' and to be part of such a great show on a great network.”
“I stay in touch with a lot of the cast - Jess Fox, Jen Metcalfe and Nikki Sanderson and probably more that I've missed out. It's a cliche, but it really is like a family at 'Hollyoaks.'”
“In the deaf community, there is exactly that - a community. It's like nothing I see in the hearing world. It's old fashioned, I guess, and beautiful.”
“Dad could speak with a strong voice. And luckily, he was very good at lip-reading, so he was able to disguise his deafness well. He tried various hearing aids but would find them fiddly and uncomfortable, and worse, they often made horrible high-pitched noises.”
“I've seen the needless struggles that deaf children and deaf people face, and that gave me the impetus to write.”
“Due to the closure of many deaf schools in the U.K., deaf children are forced to attend mainstream school. I don't mind this idea: I think it's inclusive, and it better prepares children for life in a hearing world. I don't mind this idea - if that child gets the right support.”
“Deafness and sign language are extremely close to my heart.”
“I'm hoping I can fill a gap by helping to advise people on acting mechanics - the kinds of things that, looking back, I would have really benefited from as a teenager.”