Marissa Bode, a talented disabled actor, has made history by taking on the role of Nessarose Thropp in the film adaptation of the beloved musical Wicked and its sequel, Wicked: For Good. Her groundbreaking performance not only highlights her remarkable talents but serves as a pivotal moment for disability representation in the entertainment industry. Bode, the first disabled actor cast as Nessarose, argues that “cripping up” should stop. He calls out the representation copy, insisting true representation is achieved when disabled actors play disabled characters.
Since the stage version of Wicked debuted in 2003, able-bodied actors have almost exclusively taken on the role of Nessarose. This character, who uses a wheelchair, deserves authentic representation on stage. Bode’s portrayal is a significant shift in this trend, and she hopes that audiences will see the depth of Nessarose’s character, who longs for independence and love. Her performance is a breath of fresh air for the iconic role. It also advocates for more inclusivity within the industry itself.
Bode’s career in the entertainment industry has not been an easy road. She ran into physical access barriers soon after starting her career. Once these hurdles were identified, production teams expressed little interest in changing these barriers. Fortunately, her experience on the set of Wicked was positive, largely due to the support of disability coordinator Chantelle Nassari. Bode’s advocacy extends beyond her own experiences. She emphasizes the need for increased education regarding disability and appropriate language to combat ableism.
“I think it’s important that we are telling our own stories a lot of the time,” Bode stated, highlighting her commitment to authentic representation. She realizes that not everyone relates to Nessarose’s character. She thinks it’s important to get into those conversations and have them with empathy and mutual understanding.
“Not liking Nessa is OK, it’s totally fine because she’s fictional!” – Marissa Bode
As Bode prepares for the release of Wicked: For Good, she acknowledges that backlash is likely inevitable. “Unfortunately, I kind of do expect that [again],” she remarked, indicating her awareness of the scrutiny faced by disabled characters and actors. Bode has received hateful rhetoric about Nessarose’s disability, something Bode finds incredibly painful to hear.
“Aggressive comments and jokes about Nessa’s disability itself is deeply uncomfortable because disability is not fictional, at the end of the day … It’s not edgy, it’s not funny,” – Marissa Bode
As part of her mission to spread awareness and build acceptance, Bode wants audiences to educate themselves about disability topics. She feels that society tends to place expectations and negative stereotypes on people with disabilities because of an overall lack of education. “It is this weird cycle of disability being portrayed as bad or society sees disability as bad, therefore it’s projected on to disabled people,” she explained.
In Wicked: For Good, the filmmakers altered a specific scene to enhance Nessarose’s character arc. Instead of just walking again, as one might assume, Nessarose’s shoes become magic and she learns to float. This aesthetic choice embodies a serious intention to ground the work in realism while paving new narrative paths for disabled characters.
Marissa Bode’s incredible work on stage in both Wicked and now its sequel has made waves don’t … continue reading → She beamed as she accepted the Christopher Reeve acting award at the 2025 Media Access Awards. This recognition not only affirms her amazingness and groundbreaking work in the industry, but is a testament to her continued advocacy for more inclusive representation for disabled performers.