Best in Fest
Lillian Carrier on Horse Girls and the Rise of Authentic Autism Representation in Hollywood
What happens when Hollywood stops simply portraying autism and starts listening to the people who actually live it? On this episode of Best in Fest , La Femme International Film Festival founder Leslie LaPage sits down with actress Lillian Carrier , star of the film Horse Girls , for a candid conversation about autism, acting, disability representation, authentic casting and the changing face of Hollywood. Lillian shares the remarkable story of how she went from studying to become a biologist to landing a television role after a single audition — launching an acting career she never expected. She also takes us behind the scenes of Horse Girls , where she plays Margarita, an autistic woman navigating adulthood, independence, family, friendship and the wonderfully unexpected world of hobby horsing. But this conversation goes far beyond one movie. Lillian opens up about growing up without seeing people like herself represented authentically on screen, why the disability community embraces the principle “Nothing About Us Without Us,” and what can happen when filmmakers include people with lived experience in the creative process. In this episode: How Lillian Carrier unexpectedly became a professional actress The story behind Horse Girls and her character Margarita Why authentic casting of autistic and disabled actors matters How Hollywood’s portrayal of autism has changed The difference between representation and genuine inclusion Why autistic actors need opportunities to play neurotypical characters too How Lillian advocated for herself while filming Horse Girls The surprising story behind Margarita’s adult tricycle Learning hobby horsing for the movie Why accommodations can actually create better creative solutions The relationship between autism, independence and adulthood Lillian’s work advocating for autistic adults Why disability representation still has significant room to grow Her goal of helping create a film with a predominantly autistic cast and crew What Lillian hopes Hollywood changes next It’s a conversation about much more than acting. It’s about who gets to tell stories, who gets hired to tell them, and what becomes possible when Hollywood expands its definition of who belongs on screen and behind the camera.
