AUSTIN, Texas — A video of Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin communicating with a Delta Airlines ticket agent in Austin is getting thousands of views on Twitter.
- Switched at Birth inspired ticket agent
- Ticket agent learned sign language through Youtube
- Marlee Matlin’s video getting thousands of views
We spoke with the ticket agent, Juliana Bonfim, on Wednesday, and she recounted her story at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Bonfim says Matlin was standing in line and she called the actress to the ticket counter without realizing who she was.
Seconds later, Bonfim recognized Matlin from the ABC show Switched at Birth. Bonfim told Matlin that the show inspired her to learn sign language.
“She asked, ‘Why aren’t you using it?’ And I go, 'Well, it’s really broken,'” said Bonfim, whose sign language was a bit rusty after not practicing for some time.
Matlin asked Bonfim if she could film the ticket agent speaking in sign language.
“I didn’t use sign language until the video. At the end of the video I said thank you and that’s when she said ‘Oh my God, that is so good,’” said Bonfim.
Bonfim said the show Switched at Birth, which ended in 2017, raised awareness among hearing people about issues in the deaf community.
“The show really shows really how big the deaf culture is and how a lot of us hearing people, myself included, tend to ignore that side,” Bonfim said. “I get at least two people a day going on my flights, checking in, that are deaf.”
Bonfim plans to start taking American Sign Language classes this fall. She taught herself some basic sign language through videos online.