Actress Carey Cox has redefined what it means to have a disability in the industry. Through sharing her own experiences and amplifying the voices of her community, Carey sheds light on what it’s like to live with a disability, embracing both the challenges and the triumphs that come with it.
Carey most recently portrayed Rose Blaine in “The Handmaid’s Tale.” The final season is now streaming on Hulu. As her character is introduced in Season 5 as the wife of Nick (played by Max Minghella), Rose is portrayed as having congenital hip dysplasia, a condition that causes a limp and a need for a cane, something that’s seen as highly unusual for Gilead. Carey’s portrayal of Rose Blaine aligns with her real life disability being diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.
Check out our interview with Carey:
More about Carey
Born in El Paso, TX, Carey received a BFA in Musical Theatre from Santa Fe University of Art and Design, followed by an MFA in Acting from UNC Chapel Hill. During her time at UNC, Carey performed as a company member in ten productions at PlayMakers Repertory Company. She moved to New York City in 2016 and due to symptoms of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, she began using mobility aids and transitioned to auditioning as a disabled actor.
In 2017 she understudied the role of Laura in the Broadway revival of The Glass Menagerie starring Sally Field. In 2019, Carey played Laura in The Glass Menagerie at the Guthrie Theatre directed by Joseph Haj. Carey has also performed in productions at Syracuse University, Nashville Children’s Theatre, and starred in Barefoot in the Park at Queens Theatre. She is also a playwright and has had work featured at Queens Theatre, Lincoln Center, and the Bird Festival in Tokyo, Japan. Earlier this year she wrote and performed in the 2022 Viacom CBS Diversity Showcase.
Outside of acting, Carey resides in New York and regularly shares her life on Instagram with her husband Joe Kibler who also was born with a disability. She also just gave birth to their first son, Milo. She has been very open to sharing her life as a new parent. She also sings, plays guitar, performed stand up comedy for six years, is a trained visual artist, and enjoys advocacy and volunteer work, including serving on the volunteer board of NYC nonprofit Born Dancing.
Up next, she will be starring as the lead in the independent film Where Did The Adults Go? The story follows three siblings who meet at the family summer home on the anniversary of their parents’ death, a power struggle ensues when the eldest proposes selling the house so she and her wife can afford to start a family. The film is currently doing its festival run.