Academy Award winner Marlee Matlin explores the legacy of deaf bodybuilder and American gladiator Shelley “Siren” Beattie in the HBO documentary Siren: The Voices of Shelley Beattie.
Featured in the documentary are Marlee Matlin; Shelley’s mother and siblings; friends, peers, life partner, and coach John Romano; trainers; former American Gladiators; former Ms. Olympias; founding co-owner of Gold’s Gym, Ed Connors; 1992 America’s Cup winner, Bill Koch; and Shelley’s girlfriend, Julie Moisa.
Directed by Irene Taylor (HBO’s “Trees and Other Entanglements,” “I Am: Celine Dion”), Siren: The Voices of Shelley Beattie debuts Tuesday, September 22 (9:00-10:43 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.
While searching the internet one day, Hollywood veteran Marlee Matlin came upon the story of athlete Shelley Beattie – a fellow Deaf woman whose life felt eerily like her own. Both women had experienced adventure and fame, but also discrimination, abuse, and addiction while navigating a hearing world. Siren: The Voices of Shelley Beattie explores the parallels between the two legendary women in a haunting portrait of strength, beauty, and resiliency.
Guided by Matlin, the film utilizes a wealth of archival footage, home video, intimate interviews, and Beattie’s striking personal artwork to convey her vibrant personality and voice. Matlin sought out acclaimed documentary filmmaker Irene Taylor, who has been exploring themes of hearing loss and family in many of her award-winning films for decades. Together, Taylor and Matlin decided to excavate Shelley’s extraordinary story.
By bringing her story to light, Matlin and Taylor illuminate how the hearing world can be an isolating and cruel place for those who are Deaf. Beattie found safety by protecting herself with a strong, physical exterior, then became a top international bodybuilder in the 1990s, and starred as the character “Siren” on TV’s hugely popular American Gladiators. But beneath her tough armor was a troubled and sensitive spirit.
The film traces Beattie’s early challenges with deafness in a family that struggled to understand her, detailing her journey to breaking barriers in sports and media, and highlighting her advocacy for mental health awareness all before her death at 39 years old. Matlin’s quest to learn about Beattie is an exploration into what it takes to overcome inner demons and personal struggles while turning deafness into a strength to transcend limitations and shatter boundaries.
A version of Siren: The Voices of Shelley Beattie with American Sign Language (ASL) will also be available to stream on HBO Max alongside the documentary’s debut. This version is performed by ASL Dubber Angela “AV” Vilavong (“The Way We Move,” “I Am: Celine Dion ASL”) and directed by Justin Jackerson (“Wuthering Heights with ASL,” “House of the Dragon with ASL”).
Watch the official trailer for Siren: The Voices of Shelley Beattie above.
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