Jude Powell: My acting experience so far and appearance in Bridgerton! (BSL)

I’m Jude Powell, a 22-year-old English actor and filmmaker, previously interviewed by The Limping Chicken about my role in The Chelsea Detective.

I was born in South London but moved to Buckinghamshire at age three, growing up surrounded by the countryside. I’m still based there and have lived in Buckinghamshire for most of my life.

British Sign Language (BSL) is my primary language, though I often use Supported Sign English (SSE). I lost my hearing at 18 months due to meningitis. After leaving a deaf secondary school, I began wearing a hearing aid in my right ear, which helps me in certain situations.

Being deaf has shaped who I am today, both personally and professionally. Growing up, I learned to navigate different communication styles and environments, moving between Deaf and hearing worlds. This has given me a unique perspective, resilience, and confidence in spaces that aren’t always fully accessible.

My acting journey has been a truly rewarding experience, and I’m still taking my first steps in the industry as a relatively new actor, officially starting in 2024.

However, my passion for acting began much earlier, in 2016, when I had the opportunity to perform on screen with Heathlands School in St Albans. That experience sparked my love for performing.

As my career opportunities have grown, particularly within mainstream TV and film — including platforms such as Acorn TV and Netflix — I decided to audition for the National Youth Theatre (NYT) in late 2025. I was successfully accepted and gained membership, becoming the first deaf person to complete the Digital Membership Course.

This achievement is especially meaningful to me, as it allows me to represent and be present in both Deaf and hearing spaces within youth theatre.

So far, I’ve particularly enjoyed performing in projects across a range of genres that allow me to explore emotional depth and connect with audiences, both on stage and on screen.

As a deaf actor, I’m passionate about increasing representation, showing what’s possible, and helping bridge the gap between deaf and hearing actors and audiences.

One of the challenges I’ve faced as a deaf actor is navigating an industry that hasn’t always been fully accessible or aware of the needs of deaf performers.

Early on, I sometimes had to find creative ways to communicate during auditions or rehearsals, or adapt to spaces that weren’t designed for signed communication.

I overcame this by being proactive — preparing thoroughly for auditions, advocating for my needs respectfully, and using technology such as self-tapes, Zoom auditions, and visual cues to perform at my best.

My training at Deafinitely Youth Theatre and at Berkshire College of Agriculture (BCA College), where I studied Creative Media, also gave me the confidence, skills, and strategies to work effectively in both deaf and hearing environments.

Through these experiences, I’ve learned to be resourceful, patient, and persistent, and I now see challenges as opportunities to grow and show what’s possible for deaf actors.

Being non-speaking can make this even more challenging, but it has also taught me new ways to adapt and communicate effectively, which always makes me proud.

I still can’t believe the opportunity to appear in Bridgerton. It came to me directly through my agent and the audition process, and it was such a surprise — I never thought it would actually happen. 

At first, I didn’t even know about the show, so discovering it while preparing for the role was an incredibly exciting experience.

Many people I know, including my family, are fans, and after I got the role, I started watching all three seasons because I needed to know the plot, the characters, and who they are. After that, I became a fan of the show. It might sound strange to be a fan of a show I’m acting in, but it’s nice to have both perspectives.

I remember this very well — the last day of filming for Lumo TV. When I returned home in the evening, I suddenly got a message from my agent saying that one of the casting directors had requested a self-tape from me for the role of Lord Allison. It was Kelly Valentine Hendry for a project called Vauxhall, which made me think it was a completely different project — but it was produced by Shondaland for Netflix.

It was a tight turnaround because I had to send my audition tape the very next afternoon. I decided to just go for it with a positive attitude. After they reviewed my tape, they suddenly offered me the role the next day — I was overjoyed.

Then my agent messaged me: “It’s Bridgerton!” My reaction was total shock. I realised they had been using a secret code name for the project all along.

I found my character, Lord Allison, fascinating and amazing to portray authentically as a deaf actor. They gave me the full script for the episode, which I read completely to understand the story, even though I only appear in one scene. It was important for me to know the whole context, including the “maid war,” so I could fully grasp the relationships, motivations, and nuances of my character.

The film shoot was an incredible experience — intense, exciting, and full of learning opportunities. Working on set with such talented actors and crew taught me a lot about collaboration, timing, and adapting quickly, and they were wonderful people to work with.

As a deaf actor, it was also a chance to explore new ways of communicating and performing, using visual cues and technology to ensure I could fully express my character.

Overall, it was challenging but immensely rewarding, and I came away feeling proud of what we created.

One of the most unforgettable moments was working closely with the cast. Everyone was incredibly talented and supportive, and I loved how collaborative the environment was. I remember arriving on set and seeing all the actors together in a large tent while waiting for filming to begin — it was such an exciting and inspiring moment.

Katie Leung, who plays Lady Penwood, helped me express my emotions through her presence and eye contact, even though we hadn’t discussed it beforehand.

When filming wrapped, I returned to the tent to collect my things and saw Isabella Wai, who plays Posy. She gave me a final wave, and I waved back — a small moment, but incredibly memorable.

One thing that stood out to me was the attention to detail. Costumes, gestures, and interactions all carried meaning. Even though I only appeared in one scene, everything was carefully planned. T

he Regency-era costume I wore not only looked amazing but also helped my physical performance, keeping my posture straight and helping me feel fully in character.

Before filming started, I wore my hearing aid on set, which felt a bit funny given the time period. Once everything was ready, I removed it and handed it to my BSL interpreter, who looked after my things.

Accessibility was taken seriously throughout the production. Before joining, I received a document outlining my access needs, allowing me to provide full details so the team could support me properly.

They provided a BSL interpreter throughout wardrobe fittings, rehearsals, and filming, as well as a BSL consultant.

There was also a crew member who supported me with visual cues, using floor marks and positioning as signals, and ensuring nothing blocked my signing during scenes.

Overall, this job felt very different from the others I’ve done. It was on a much larger scale, with incredible attention to detail. I also felt a strong sense of support — the cast and crew were lovely and friendly, which made a big difference to my confidence on set, especially as I was quite nervous at first.

It allowed me to fully focus on my performance and enjoy being part of such a high-level production.

I’m excited to keep building on this experience and continue growing as an actor. I currently have two projects under NDA, including commercial and stage work, and I’m also hoping to be part of Bridgerton in future seasons.

I’m open to new opportunities across film and television, especially roles that challenge me and allow me to develop my craft further.

Photography credit Netflix/Shondaland