Peter Pan star Noah Matthews Matofsky, 15, becomes first actor with Down syndrome to star in Disney film and credits A-list co-star for giving him his best day on set
Peter Pan actor Noah Matthews Matofsky makes history as the first actor with Down syndrome to star in a Disney feature film.
The British teenager, 15, stars as Slightly, leader of the Lost Boys, in the new Peter Pan adaptation for Disney+.
The actor credited Jude Law – who plays Captain Hook – with giving him one of his best days on set when the A-lister surprised the child actors with ice cream.
Speak against The sunsaid Noah, “One of my favorite days was when Jude rented an ice cream truck and brought it to the set, then served us ice cream himself.”
Noah threw herself into the project and especially enjoyed filming the action sequences, such as the one where the pirate ship is overturned.
Achievement: Peter Pan actor Noah Matthews Matofsky makes history as the first actor with Down syndrome to star in a Disney feature film
Role: The British teenager, 15, stars as Slightly, leader of the Lost Boys, in the new Peter Pan adaptation for Disney+
He said: ‘It was a great experience, I had my own trailer and made a lot of great friends. We all learned sword fighting, which I loved.
“I had to learn a lot of rules very quickly, but it was exciting and I really enjoyed it.”
Noah, who boasts an encyclopedic knowledge of film, learned through inclusive talent agency Zebedee that Disney was casting for the film.
The actor submitted an audition tape and then met with director David Lowery, with Noah’s mother Kathryn saying they bonded over a mutual love for Lord of the Flies.
Filming meant the family had to be apart, with Noah and Kathryn flying to Vancouver while his father Warren stayed home with sister Lola who was doing her GCSEs.
Noah said he hopes to go to drama school and would like to be a role model for other people with Down syndrome who would like to perform.
He added that the condition should not hold anyone back and said people should “always dream big.”
The film is a live-action adaptation of the beloved 1953 Peter Pan animated classic, which has been reinterpreted many times over the decades.
Filming: The actor credited Jude Law – who plays Captain Hook – with giving him one of his best days on set when the A-lister surprised the child actors with ice cream
Career: Noah, who boasts an encyclopedic knowledge of film, learned through inclusive talent agency Zebedee that Disney was casting for the film
The story follows Peter Pan, played by Alexander Molony, who never ages and is always up for fun.
He takes his new girlfriend Wendy, played by Ever Anderson – the child of actress Milla Jovovich and director Paul WS Anderson – to Neverland to see where kids have fun.
That’s where Wendy has the adventure of a lifetime as she meets the diabolical Lost Boys, the brave Tinkerbell – played by Yara Shahidi – and encounters beautiful mermaids and the enchanting Tiger Lily.
Jude Law is the latest in a line of actors to take on the role of Captain Hook, who haunts the magical Neverland, pursued by the crocodile that ate his severed hand while trying to avenge his injury on Lost Boy Peter Pan.
Classic: The film is a live-action adaptation of the beloved 1953 Peter Pan classic, which has been reinterpreted many times over the decades.
Previous incarnations of Hook have been played by the likes of Dustin Hoffman and Jason Isaacs.
The decision to create a live-action version of the Peter Pan story came after the success of live-action versions of other Disney animated classics such as The Jungle Book, Aladdin, and The Lion King.
Peter Pan & Wendy – coming out during Disney’s 100th anniversary – will stream on Disney+ on April 28.
