An actor missing four fingers is sharing his difficult journey to encourage others with a disability not to give up.
Milton Lopes has faced multiple challenges throughout his life trying to prove himself.
The 47-year-old was born with symbrachydactyly, a rare condition that causes fingers to grow webbed or not at all.
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For him, this has led to countless rejections, judgemental comments and feelings of self-doubt.
Now, he’s sharing his story in a bid to show that his disability doesn’t define him – or his talent.
“People often look at my hand and automatically think I’m not capable of doing much,” the actor and musician, from London, told What’s The Jam.
“So, I have to work 10 times harder than everybody else.
“I remember walking into some auditions and everybody being like: ‘Oh s**t, he doesn’t have any fingers’, so I had to make sure to blow their minds away before I left the room.
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“I was rejected from several auditions, with the directors saying that although I’m very talented, the role wasn’t for a disabled person.
“It was hard and devastating, but I am extremely stubborn.
“I’ve always taken pride in my body, including my hand.
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“Because I can do what the majority of the population with 10 fingers can’t.”
Milton mostly uses his right hand for daily tasks.
He’s able to drive a car, write, type and even open jars – something which his family often ask his help with.
But the actor also has another impressive set of skills; from playing the guitar, performing in the circus and directing theatre shows.
To date, he’s appeared in Hollywood blockbusters such as Marvel’s Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, as well as Disney films and Portuguese flicks.
And while he’s had the option to have prosthetic fingers inserted into his hand, he isn’t interested.
He said: “It would be weird to have fingers all of a sudden.
“There’s always been this sense of awe around me, as people are surprised I can do so many things without fingers on my left hand.
“But I’ve just done what human beings are good at doing: adapted easily to any circumstance presented to me.
“It hasn’t affected my dating life either; I’ve always had girlfriends – and they’ve never complained.”
While he has lost work because of his disability, he hopes to share his story to encourage others to never give up.
Milton added: “I really believe that nothing is impossible.
“There is always a way of doing things and it might not be the way that the majority of people do it – but it’s our way.
“If you fall, stand up, dust yourself off and try again until you succeed.
“That’s what I’ve done my whole life; and what I’ll always do.
“Besides – ten fingers are overrated.”
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