Introducing Anna

 

Anna Cannings was born blind, with a rare eye condition called Bilateral Microphthalmia; bilateral meaning both eyes and Microphthalmia meaning abnormally small eyes.  Despite this – or possibly even because of it – her life so far has been an eclectic and exciting mix of unusual events.  She was the first totally blind child in Sussex to attend mainstream schools; set up and ran her own audio production company when she was just 18; has featured in numerous publications as a photographic model, as well as working as a sculptor’s model; and has worked as an actor on prime time TV dramas.

 

Anna says: “When I was young, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life.  I knew that I was good with people and that I was a strong communicator, but I couldn’t decide how to use these skills.  There was talk of me being a secretary or perhaps even a lawyer, but I didn’t really fancy either of those career paths.  Instead, I stumbled across the media, and it has been stuck with me ever since!  I expect I would have been much richer if I had decided to be a lawyer, but I don’t think I would have been anywhere near as happy – I love my work.”

 

Anna has always been a campaigner for change and believes in leading by example.  She thinks it is critical that people with disabilities are empowered to live full and inclusive lives, where barriers to participation are minimised.  She extends these beliefs into her work on a daily basis, applying for the widest range of acting, voice-over and modelling jobs possible.

 

She says: “I don’t believe in limiting myself to the obvious castings for a blind performer.  If I did that, I would hardly ever be working!  Instead, I believe in challenging convention and breaking new ground and that means applying for every job that I am able to do and am suitable for, irrespective of whether or not it’s a job that someone would initially think of a blind actor, voice artist or model for.  There’s a lot of rejection out there, but every now and then someone surprises me and that’s how I’m meeting new people, encouraging them to think differently and helping to bring about change.”

 

Anna was born in Sussex and lived there until she was 26, when she moved to London.  “I was sick of the commuting,” she says. “Oh, and I wanted my own place too and a bit more life than sleepy Sussex could give me!”  Now aged 30, Anna lives on her own in a flat in West London, enjoys a good social life and is a keen fitness fanatic.  She believes that a healthy body helps to create a healthy, peaceful and focussed state of mind – things that Anna values greatly in her unpredictable and sometimes stressful career.

 

“Most people think I’m crazy for working in such a visually oriented industry when I have a visible disability which makes me look different from the norm,” Anna says.  “But I really love it and hey, some of us have got to give it a go!  If those of us who are a bit different from the classic look don’t apply for work, then the actors on our stages and screens, and the models in our magazines and catalogues, will look the same forever.  I’m different and many people won’t even consider booking me.  But that’s all part of the fun and part of the challenge.  And I love a challenge – always have done and always will!  It’s what makes me tick.”