Direct answer: Marissa Bode uses a wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury she sustained in a car accident when she was 11 years old. This personal history explains why she uses a wheelchair and has been highlighted as the first actor portraying Nessarose in Wicked to use a wheelchair in real life.
Context and clarifications:
- The injury occurred in childhood and led to paralysis from the waist down, requiring a wheelchair for mobility. This has been consistently reported across multiple outlets and profiles about her background.
- Bode’s casting as Nessarose in Wicked has been noted as a significant moment for authentic representation, illustrating how her lived experience informs her portrayal.
If you’d like, I can provide links to the sources or summarize how different outlets describe her casting and impact on representation.
