Lauren Potter

Lauren Potter's dream of being viewed as a "normal" teenager came true in a big way when she joined the cast of the hit series "Glee" (Fox, 2009-15) as a wannabe cheerleader with Down syndrome who earns the trust of her manipulative coach. In the process, the actress inspired millions of people, regardless of their abilities. She was born on May 10, 1990 in Inland Empire, CA. As a baby, she was diagnosed with Down syndrome. Despite some disadvantages, by age two, Potter began taking dance lessons and expressed an interest in acting. She studied drama at Poly High School in Riverside, where she graduated and also became a member of the nonprofit agency, the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles. Prior to her being cast on "Glee," an ambitious musical comedy series about a group of talented misfits who bond as members of a struggling high school music club, Potter's only experience in front of the camera was in the independent film "Mr. Blue Sky" (2007), where she portrayed a 10-year-old girl with Down syndrome who falls in love with a boy not struggling with a debilitating disease.