{"id":302118,"date":"2023-11-22T12:42:53","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T18:42:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=302118"},"modified":"2023-11-26T22:48:44","modified_gmt":"2023-11-27T04:48:44","slug":"teen-actress-down-syndrome-hunger-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/teen-actress-down-syndrome-hunger-games\/","title":{"rendered":"Teen actress with Down syndrome makes big screen debut in ‘Hunger Games’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A teen with Down syndrome who gained notoriety seven years ago for the inspirational message she shared in a viral video is serving as an inspiration once again, as she makes<\/a> her big-screen debut.<\/p>\n

Sofia Sanchez, age 14, is a freshman in high school. But unlike most ninth graders, she’s also authored two books and has a role in the upcoming film, “Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” Sofia, who was adopted as a baby from Ukraine and also has a brother with Down syndrome, has worked for years to bring awareness and fight for inclusion in the Down syndrome community. Her children’s books are titled, “You are Enough” and “You are Loved.”<\/p>\n

In the video that went viral on social media in 2017, Sofia’s mom Jennifer Varanini Sanchez asked her daughter, \u201cIs Down syndrome in your blood?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Sofia responded. \u201cDoes it make your blood special?\u201d \u201cYeah!\u201d \u201cIs Down syndrome scary?,\u201d Jennifer asked. \u201cNo, it\u2019s not scary,\u201d Sofia replied.<\/p>\n