BAFTA nominee Ruth Madeley will serve as disability rights activist Judy Heumann for Academy Award winner Siân Heder's upcoming Apple original film "Be Heumann".

According to Heumann's best-selling memoir, "Be Heumann" follows activists as she leads more than a hundred disabled people to take over the San Francisco federal building and begins a 28-day sit-in. The summary of the film explains: “Protesters quickly formed a close community and refused to leave until the government enforces Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires access to all federal spaces.”

Heder - his 2021 film Coda became the first film, mostly deaf, winning the Oscar for Best Picture, while she collected trophys for the best adapted script - will adapt, direct and produce the project based on the overall deal with Apple. Rebekah Taussig will serve as co-author.

Madeley is a British star, known for "Barbara meets Alan at the time", "Years and Years" and "Who Doctor Who".

"It is an incredible honor to play the mother of the right of a disabled mother and a strong idol and a strong country," Madley said in a statement on the role. "Judy has always been my personal inspiration and I'm happy to share her story with the world. It really is a lifelong role."

In 2018, Madeley introduced the BBC Two/Horay documentary "Spina Bifida & Me", which explores how law prevents many birth defects and how pioneering fetal surgery can change the life of infants with spina bifida. In the series, Madeley explores her journey with spina bifida while talking to other patients and medical professionals.

Madeley's breakthrough role appeared in the 2015 BBC drama Don't Take My Kids, where she played a woman with disabilities fighting to maintain custody of her children. The performance earned her a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress, and the following year she was named BAFTA Breakthrough Brit. Recently, Madeley played Shirley Anne Bingham on “Who Doctor Who”, debuting on the 60th Anniversary Special, opposite David Tennant and Catherine Tate, before reprising his role in the new series led by Ncuti Gatwa. Next year, she will film the leading role in Ecstasy, a five-part BBC adaptation of Liz Jensen’s best-selling novel. Madeley was rejected by Emma Higginbottom Curtis Brown and Tapestry London.

Walsh Company is produced by David Premut ("Hacksaw Ridge", "Face/Off") and Kevin Walsh ("Face/off") and Walsh Company (Walsh Company) in a total deal with Apple. Heumann's managers John W. Beach and Kevin Cleary (Gravity Squared Entertainment) are also producers. Executive producers include Heumann, “Be Heumann” co-author Kristen Joiner and Diana Pokorny.