Lauren Potter

Lauren Potter
Lauren Potter celebrating the opening ceremony of the LA 2015 Special Olympics at the Coliseum.
Born	(1990-05-10) May 10, 1990 (age 26) Inland Empire, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, White House advisor
Years active	2007–present

Lauren Elizabeth Potter (born May 10, 1990) is an American actress, best known for her role as Becky Jackson in the television show Glee. Potter serves as an advocate for those with special needs through organizations including AbilityPath, Best Buddies International, the Down Syndrome Association, the American Association of People with Disabilities, and Special Olympics.

Potter was born May 10, 1990, and grew up in Southern California's Inland Empire. At birth, she was diagnosed with Down syndrome. She did not have the ability to walk until the age of 2, but then began attending dancing and acting classes at a young age. She graduated from Riverside Polytechnic High School in Riverside, California, and was studying at Irvine Valley College in Irvine, California, as of late 2011.

At the age of 16, Potter obtained her first acting role, starring in the film, Mr. Blue Sky.

From 2009 to 2015, Potter portrayed the recurring character Becky Jackson, a cheerleader with Down syndrome, in all six seasons of the TV show Glee. Cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) takes a special interest in Becky in part because Sue's older sister, Jean, also has Down syndrome. In 2012, Potter was nominated for a SAG award in the Ensemble in a Comedy Series category for her work in Glee. She also received the SAG/AFTRA Harold Russell Award at the 2012 Media Access Awards.

In November 2011, President Barack Obama appointed Potter to the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, where she will advise the White House on issues related to that population. Twenty-one members are involved in the committee along with 13 U.S. federal government staff. During periodic meetings throughout the year, the committee will discuss a variety of different issues affecting those with disabilities including items such as education and workplace integration issues.