Meeting the Bionic Actress: Angel Guiffria

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Angel Giuffria and spending the entire day with her. 

The morning began with an introduction to the English-German Student Council (EGSC) board and the three Vice Deans of the Medical School. Next on the agenda, Angel had some  interviews with the University television and other media. After, we toured the Medical School. We started by showing her the Anatomy Department. We saw a brain and she even got a quick Neuroanatomy lesson from Prof. Reglődi. When we left the Anatomy Department, we headed over to the new building for lunch at Umami. Afterwards, we explored the city of Pécs. We showed her the Barbican, Pécs Cathedral, Cella Septichora, Széchenyi Square, and the Zsolnay Fountain. 

At night, the motivational speech took place and Angel told her story. Angel was born without the lower part of her left arm. Before her birth, her parents were unaware that she would be born with a limb defect. So, imagine their surprise when the doctors told them their little girl was missing her arm?

At just 4 months old, Angel was fitted with her first myoelectric arm, making her the youngest person in the world to do so. From a young age, her parents realised she loved performing and enrolled her in theatre. Angel participated in musicals and cosplay. During graduate school, she began landing roles in commercials, movies, and television shows. She has featured in promotional ads for Facebook, Apple, Walmart, Google, Delta, T.J. Maxx, and Tommy Hilfiger. She has acted in movies like The Accountant, The Tomorrow War, and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay. She has appeared in shows like Chicago Med, FBI: Most Wanted, Snowpiercer, and Impulse.

Angel is a fighter and she gets that from her mom who has always made sure she received the treatment she needed. Today, she works to make sure other people with limb defects can have the same access to limbs that she has had growing up. During her lifetime, Angel has been fitted with many limbs. Even now, she uses multiple attachments because there is not one that can do it all. 

Angel is also very determined and that's something she gets from both her parents who instilled in her that she is capable of anything. At first, she was only cast for roles where the character had a limb defect. Today, that's not the case. The focus is no longer on her disability but rather her personality. She reminded us that in life there will be difficulties, but we shouldn't let those things stop us. Sometimes those hard times we go through are there to make us better and to shape the person we are meant to be. She encouraged us to stay focused on our goals because nothing in life is unattainable if you put your mind to it. 

Angel is a bubbly and down to earth kind of gal. She loves to talk and captivates her audience once she opens her mouth. Hearing her speak about her disability and overcoming adversity was so inspiring. She touched on acceptance and tolerance. She emphasised the power we, as future physicians and human beings, have to bring about change. A disability is not something that should be shunned and we shouldn't treat people differently just because they don't look, speak, or act like us. We must develop a sense of appreciation and respect for the individualism seen in others.

I am so happy to have met Angel. We had great conversations, and I feel I really got to know her as a person in the short amount of time we spent together. I look forward to seeing what role she lands next and wish her all the best in her journey to stardom!

Thank you Angel for being such a genuine person and thank you to the EGSC for putting on such a great event!

Me and Angel Giuffria after the Motivational Speech.