Sofia Sanchez, ‘Hunger Games’ star with Down syndrome, says being in the movie was ‘awesome'
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes actress Sofia Sanchez, who has Down syndrome, along with director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson talk with Yahoo Entertainment’s Kevin Polowy about her role in the dystopian action movie.
Video Transcript
KEVIN POLOWY: How did you react when you heard that you were going to be in "The Hunger Games?" How exciting was that?
SOFIA SANCHEZ: I was so excited.
KEVIN POLOWY: Was that like the best news you ever got?
SOFIA SANCHEZ: Oh, yeah. I felt excited. I love it.
KEVIN POLOWY: Were you a big "Hunger Games" fan.
SOFIA SANCHEZ: I am a "Hunger Games" fan. Are you kidding me?
KEVIN POLOWY: So you were a "Hunger Games" fan, and now you're a "Hunger Games" star.
SOFIA SANCHEZ: Yes.
KEVIN POLOWY: That's crazy. You're in-- what was that like to watch yourself in this movie?
SOFIA SANCHEZ: Oh, just so awesome. I'm so excited to see me on a big screen because it was the best day of my whole entire life. It was a fun experience for me.
KEVIN POLOWY: I love Sofia Sanchez. In this movie, she plays Wovey, a tribute from district eight. Wovey in the book, I don't believe has Down syndrome. Sofia Sanchez does. And it's such a refreshing casting choice because I feel like that's something we don't often see--
FRANCIS LAWRENCE: Sure.
KEVIN POLOWY: --in Hollywood. Can you talk about the casting process with Sofia and how you found her?
FRANCIS LAWRENCE: Yeah. I mean, one of the things that-- A, I wanted to make sure that there was plenty of diversity. And I don't just mean ethnic diversity in this. There's like all kinds. I wanted to be more raw, more authentic. I also wanted to show that if you are a young child and you have tuberculosis and your name was chosen, you're going in. If you're a young child with Down syndrome and your name is chosen, you're going in.
There is no mercy for anybody. Your name gets chosen, you go in. And so I just found that really interesting to have Knox, who's missing an arm. He goes in. Sofia, who has Downs, she's going in. But she was amazing. Everybody fell in love with Sofia.
NINA JACOBSON: Well, Sofia came in and had a great audition. She's also a super charismatic kid, you know, like really hard not to fall in love with her. But she came in and had a great audition.
KEVIN POLOWY: How do you hope to inspire other actors with Down syndrome?
SOFIA SANCHEZ: Well, my answer is everyone can be together and be included because you're different and special in unique ways because no matter what if you're perfect, but we can still cure the world if we love each other.
