Chantelle Nassari, a 53-year-old from St Albans, Hertfordshire, has become a trailblazer in the entertainment industry for her work as an accessibility coordinator on the Hollywood adaptation of the Broadway musical "Wicked."
Per BBC, her role in ensuring inclusivity on set has drawn global attention and praise, making her a pioneer in accessibility in film production.
Nassari, who uses a wheelchair, was headhunted for the position. She admitted that while she was initially unaware of the magnitude of the project, she quickly fell in love with the production. Speaking about her experience, she said, "I got submerged in it without any context of the enormity of what I had just accepted."
The "Wicked" movie, directed by Jonathan Chu, premiered in November 2024 and has grossed approximately $650 million worldwide. Starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, and Michelle Yeoh, the film also featured scenes filmed in the Buckinghamshire countryside, where a full-scale Munchkinland was constructed.
Nassari's responsibilities on set included assessing obstacles and ensuring that entrances and exits were accessible to everyone. She explained, "There was a lot of stuff involved, but it comes naturally to me—I look at that stuff, scan an area, and I can just adapt it." Her expertise was pivotal in creating an inclusive environment, not just for actors but for all involved in the production.
During filming, Nassari worked closely with Marissa Bode, who played Nessarose. Bode, a disabled actor, was new to the industry and faced the challenge of moving to England alone for her first major film role. Nassari's nurturing instincts kicked in. "She is so lovely, such a sweetheart," she shared. "Coming to England at her age on her own and being disabled, it was quite epic—my mother instincts kicked in, I think."
Since the film's premiere, Nassari has been overwhelmed by the positive response to her work. "I have been inundated with people contacting me from all over the world just interested in what this means and how they can do this with whatever production they're working on, or training opportunities," she said. She has even been invited to provide accessibility training in the US.
Nassari believes her work has helped raise awareness in the industry. "I think it has also woken up the industry to how important [accessibility] is, because it is not just the actors that needed things adapted to or needed somebody who needed to hear them," she said.
Nassari's dedication to inclusivity dates back to her teenage years. She was the first wheelchair user in the UK to earn a dance GCSE, a milestone that required the syllabus to be adapted to accommodate her needs. "I am that person—that if you tell me I can't, generally I want to do it more," she said.
She recalled insisting on taking dance as a GCSE option despite the physical challenges. "There was just no way I wasn't going to be doing GCSE dance," she said. Her determination led to changes in the curriculum, making it more inclusive for future students.
