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Marlee Matlinis recognizing her mentors as she enjoys a fruitful awards season.
TheCODAstar, 56, creditedWhoopi Goldbergfor inspiring her as she spoke with PEOPLE at Saturday’s 33rd Producers Guild of America Awards. “I’ve had great mentors in my life,” Matlin said through an interpreter.
“She’s gone through a great deal of breaking barriers,” she added of Goldberg, 66. “And she set an example for me as well. I have good friends and most especially I have family who supports me, who have my back.”
Goldberg and Matlin first appeared together in 1992’sThe Player, a few short years after Matlin won her first Academy Award, taking Best Actress for 1986’sChildren of a Lesser God. Matlin most recently reunited with Goldberg when she appeared last month on an episode ofThe View.
Matlin also praisedHenry Winklerasanother mentor"who told me to not let anyone define me, not let anyone tell me no," adding: “And just like anybody who has a dream or a goal or a desire, I shouldn’t let my deafness stop me. And so I never let my deafness define me.”
The film also won Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures at Saturday’s Producers Guild of America Awards.
Matlin expressed her excitement to PEOPLE over being able to experience another awards season, this time with costars and fellow deaf actorsTroy KotsurandDaniel Durantalong for the ride (Kotsur is up for Best Supporting Actorat this year’s Oscars).
RELATED VIDEO: CODA Star Troy Kotsur Reveals Why He Was Nervous To Work With Marlee Matlin
“Today, what I’m excited about is the fact that people are really getting involved. They’re expressing their opinions. They’re having conversations,” Matlin said. “And it’s more exciting that I’m not the only one anymore. There are costars now with me who are experiencing this, that never have experienced in their depth. And so it’s nice to be with them and to be part of their journey.”
source: people.com
