Actress Lauren Ridloff

By Metro Creative

AMC’s uber-popular and long-running television series “The Walking Dead” introduced audiences to a number of notable characters during its 13-season run. Lauren Ridloff, a former kindergarten teacher and Broadway actress, was a huge fan of the show before she found herself joining the cast in the ninth season of the show.

Viewers may not know Ridloff by her actual name, but likely recognize her as “Connie,” the compassionate and brave individual who must survive in the post-apocalyptic, zombie-infested world as a deaf individual. Like her character on the series, Ridloff is deaf and uses American Sign Language to communicate.

Ridloff was joined by actress Angel Theory, who played her sister “Kelly” on the show. Like her on-screen persona, Theory is hearing-impaired.

As filming “TWD” could be intense and led to a strong camaraderie among cast members, many of the other stars and crew of the show learned some ASL to make Ridloff and Theory feel more at home — actions that were mirrored on screen. Ridloff said she looked forward to what everyone learned between filming breaks by watching YouTube or using ASL apps.

Ridloff also made headlines for Marvel’s 2021 “The Eternals,” as the cinematic universe’s first deaf superhero. She continues to use her voice so others in the deaf community can share their own stories.

— Metro Creative