This week, legendary actor Warwick Davis paid a visit to Franche Primary School in Kidderminster, England, to speak with students about his career and his charity Little People UK. He also spoke about his condition and how it hasn’t hindered his life goals. Diagnosed with dwarfism, Davis told the children how he learned to look at this condition as a “superpower” rather than a handicap at an early age.
“It’s really important to have a go and try new things even if you can’t do it when you try first time,” the actor explained to the pupils. “Sometimes people look at me and think you can’t do that, you’re too small, but you have to listen to yourself and think well actually I think I can.”
Davis also personally met and spent some time with year four pupil Archie Macey, as the young boy also has dwarfism. His mother Michelle told The Shuttle how bullying had been a problem for her son with other students using the ‘M’ word, but hopes the visit and speech from Davis will help raise awareness on the issue. “Parents just need to be aware of it as children pick these words up from somewhere,” she explained.
Archie spoke about how the school visit from Davis resonated with him as well. “The assembly was great,” he expressed after viewing the actor’s speech. “I think bullying is horrible. Just because I’m small doesn’t mean I’m not a person.” Franche headteacher James Kenyon agrees, saying, “All schools have got to take bullying very seriously but it’s also about getting children to understand that difference can be a strength.”
For the young children in attendance, Davis is perhaps best known for appearing in the Harry Potter movies. Luckily for them, he even recreated the levitation spell from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. For horror movie fans, however, Davis is particularly appreciated for his performance as the titular antagonist in the Leprechaun movie series. He can also be seen in many other movies like Labyrinth, Return of the Jedi, and, of course, Willow. Both on and off screen, one thing is for sure – Warwick Davis is the best.
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