We all have heard about the Spanish actor named Pablo Pineda who received the Silver Shell award at the 2009 San Sebastián International Film Festival for his performance in the film Yo Tambien (Me Too).
In the movie, he played the role of a university graduate with Down syndrome, which is quite similar to his real life. After the release of his film, he became world-famous and now everyone knows him.
He was born to a family of a housewife and the director of the Cervantes theater on August 5, 1974. Pablo was the fourth child and his mother didn’t realize that her son is different from other kids. After 3 months, his father who was aware of Pablo’s condition decided to tell his wife about their son’s diagnosis.
His mother cried a lot after knowing this and she thought her son was genetically “different” shouldn’t influence his life at all.
Pablo’s father didn’t treat him different than his other siblings and gave him the same love. He taught his son foreign languages, including Latin and Pablo, was finally able to go to school when turned 5.
He baffled his teachers with his keen sense of knowledge and sharp mind. His story came into light when he entered college.
In college, Pablo’s teacher didn’t take him seriously as they were skeptical about him and other students ignored him until his second year. Nobody wanted to talk to him and he felt completely helpless and, at one point, he even wanted to drop out of college.
At last, the day arrived when he graduated from college and his graduation ceremony was the proudest moment for him and his parents. Teachers gave him a standing ovation and people applauded for him when he went on stage to receive his diploma.
He became the only person in Europe among the people with Down syndrome to ever graduate from college with several diplomas, including art and pedagogical psychology. The only professor with down syndrome, and not only this but now the only Spanish person with Down syndrome to play the main role in a film.