A24’s latest dark thriller “A Different Man” is a twisted study of inner and outer personality, starring British actor Adam Pearson.
The film stars Sebastian Stan as Edward, an actor who is living with neurofibromatosis (NF), a rare genetic condition that causes malignant tumors to grow on nerve cells in the body and skin.
Frustrated by the way she judges and mocks him for his daily appearance, Edward agrees to participate in an experimental drug trial that could cure him. The process is a success and parts of his skin come off over time, revealing a new face and a new alter-ego he calls Guy.
But the novelty wears off after Edward meets Oswald (Pearson), who was born with neurofibromatosis but walks the world with confidence. As the couple gets to know each other better, Edward finds himself jealous and longing for the identity he gave up.
Although Pearson, 39, is best known for his work as an award-winning broadcaster and disability rights campaigner, “A Different Man” marks his latest credit. Here is everything you can know about him.
Pearson was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1 when she was 5 years old
Pearson at the Deauville American Film Festival in September 2024. LOU BENOIST/AFP via Getty Images
Pearson has an identical twin named Neil Pearson, who also has neurofibromatosis. NF manifests in different ways for siblings; Adam has different faces and Neil has short term memory problems and epilepsy. As of 2024, Adam told People magazine that he has undergone 39 other procedures to remove his cancerous growths that continue to grow.
In an interview with The Observer in 2014, Adam said he was bullied at school growing up because of his appearance.
He told Longevity that “TV was always plan A for me,” but he studied business administration at Brighton University as a backup plan.
Adam went on to make a name for himself as a featured speaker in the films “Horizon: My Amazing Twin,” “Adam Pearson: Freak Show,” “The Face of Disability Hate Crime,” and “Eugenics : Science’s Greatest Concerns.” She and Neil were also the subjects of the 2019 short film “The Pearson Twins.”
While working on TV production, an opportunity arose for Adam to have a role in Jonathan Glazer’s 2014 sci-fi film “Under the Skin” starring Scarlett Johansson. He went on to appear in several shorts and films, including writer and director Aaron Schimberg’s “Chained for Life.”
Throughout his entertainment career, Adam has used his platform to advocate for disability rights and denigrate NF.
“I go into everything with a clear head and a full heart,” Pearson told People in a recent interview. “If people want to talk, let’s talk. I know people with disabilities say, ‘It’s not my job to teach you about disabilities.’ But we are professionals, I think that if I don’t teach, it is careless and irresponsible.
Pearson’s role in ‘A Different Man’ was written for him
Pearson as Oswald in “A Different Man.” Matt Infante/A24
After meeting Pearson on “Chained for Life,” Schimberg ended up writing the script for “A Different Man” specifically with him in mind for the character of Oswald.
“I was inspired to write the part to show his range, and as a kind of tribute to him,” said the writer and director of “The Different Man” in the film’s press release.
Schimberg, who has had her mouth and palate repaired, says Pearson has changed “my perspective on my disability because I’ve always been afraid of others’ judgment.”
Schimberg also said he wouldn’t have considered doing “The Different Man” if Pearson passed on the part.
Pearson praised the writer-director for writing him a role that did not change actors with disabilities, something he previously called Hollywood.
“Aaron knows how to write me, and he knows what it’s like in real life,” Pearson said in a press release. “It’s always good to expand the cast – as an actor with a disability, you run the risk of being typecast anyway. It was a real pleasure to be involved in this, and to make the team come back together.”
“A Different Man” is now in theaters.