The Girl’s Speech
How Tom Hooper’s New Film The King’s Speech Hit Home for a Former Stutterer
Tom Hooper’s new movie, The King’s Speech—about King George VI’s stuttering problems—revived some old memories and old pain for me.
I am a stutterer, although most people would be surprised to hear that. My stutter affected me most acutely as a child, and by my 11th birthday, I had stopped talking altogether. The effort it took to force out every word was so exhausting and frustrating that it was easier just to shut up.
Ironically, it was speaking from the stage that gave me back my voice.
