“I’m a man on a mission to show that life with Down Syndrome can be exciting and is worth living, so that other people understand and give us the chance to live life to the full and to be fulfilled.”
Tommy Jessop is a multi-award-winning actor, theatre performer, and campaigner who has played a leading role in changing how people with Down Syndrome are seen in both the media and government.
In A Life Worth Living, Tommy shares his own story, from his breakthrough in acting to his tireless campaigning, revealing the determination, charisma and joy that drive him. His instinct to support others shines through every page, alongside his call for a simple but powerful truth: people with learning disabilities deserve to be treated just like everyone else.
Tommy Jessop is a multi-award-winning actor whose career spans feature films, acclaimed television dramas, and celebrated stage productions. Audiences will recognise him from BBC’s Line of Duty and Mark Haddon’s Coming Down the Mountain, while on stage he broke new ground as the first actor with Down Syndrome to perform Hamlet in mainstream theatres with his company, Blue Apple Theatre.
A trailblazer in the industry, Tommy also became the first actor with Down Syndrome to be elected as a BAFTA member. Beyond his work as a performer, his profile has given him a platform to champion change, most notably in campaigning for the Down Syndrome Act, a landmark piece of legislation designed to secure better rights and support.
Tommy is an Ambassador for Mencap and Patron of the National Down Syndrome Policy Group, roles through which he continues to inspire and advocate.
