Kimberly Elise And Camryn Manheim Star In TV Movie, `The Loretta Claiborne Story'

Jet, Jan 17, 2000

Famed actress Kimberly Elise and Emmy Award-winner Camryn Manheim star in an unforgettable portrayal of the life of Loretta Claiborne, a world-class Special Olympics athlete and one of the most inspirational women of our time in the TV movie The Loretta Claiborne Story.

The movie airs on "The Wonderful World of Disney," Sunday, Jan. 16, at 7:00-9:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on ABC.

Elise portrays Loretta Claiborne, who was born into a large, poor, single-parent family. Partially blind and unable to walk or talk until the age of 4, Loretta faced ridicule and humiliation because of her mild mental retardation while growing up.

The movie is based on Claiborne's extraordinary life and career.

She went on to become a champion athlete, teacher and passionate advocate for those with mental and physical disabilities.

The discovery of her running ability and a new program called the Special Olympics changed her life, culminating in her winning the 1996 Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the ESPY Awards.

Manheim of "The Practice" TV series stars as feisty social worker Janet McFarland, who brought Loretta and the Special Olympics together. Loretta trained and competed to become a Special Olympics gold medal champion.

Loretta also holds a fourth-degree black belt in karate and speaks four languages, including sign language. She also holds an honorary doctorate degree from Quinnipiac College, the first person with mental retardation to receive such an honor.

Elise, who was featured in the films Beloved and Set It Off, says of her portrayal of Claiborne: "I felt a big responsibility to Loretta Claiborne, to Special Olympics, and to people with mental retardation. This story is a reminder, at least for me, that it's important to strive for your best and do the most that you can with your life. We need to appreciate the gifts that we've been given, because it doesn't always come that way."