By Karim Hammam
Actor and disability rights activist Adam Pearson has revealed he was struck by a car while on his way to a meeting with director Jonathan Glazer for the 2013 sci-fi horror film Under the Skin, an incident that left him with a broken leg but ultimately led to him winning a role opposite Scarlett Johansson.
Accident on the way to the meeting
Speaking at a Q&A hosted by The Independent at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, Pearson said he had only one road to cross to reach the meeting. "Child's play, you'd think – but I get hit by a car and break my leg," he recalled. Despite the injury, Pearson called Glazer, saying he would be ten minutes late. Glazer later found him lying under a taxi on morphine. The next day, Glazer visited Pearson in hospital and offered him the part.
Career and advocacy
Pearson, who has neurofibromatosis, previously worked as a researcher on shows including The Undateables. Since his breakout in Under the Skin, he has become a prominent advocate for disability rights. In 2024 he starred opposite Sebastian Stan in the dark comedy A Different Man, earning critical acclaim. Pearson said the experience left him with imposter syndrome, adding: "I used to refer to myself as, like, a disabled actor. I don't say disabled anymore. I'm an actor. I'm in this room because I'm the best in the world at what I do."
Upcoming project
Pearson will next appear in Zero Intention of Living Quietly, directed by Edward Lovelace, which chronicles his journey to transform his love of movies into a screen career while living with neurofibromatosis. The Q&A event also featured author Helen Fielding and actor Claire Rushbrook as part of a wider programme of screenings and cultural events.
