If the HBO Original documentary Siren: The Voices of Shelley Beattie had focused solely on the story of a deaf woman who became a championship bodybuilder and an American Gladiators star, it likely would have been enough. Viewers love against-the-odds tales.
Instead, Siren is something more powerful, complex, and downright heartbreaking. It’s an intense examination of a troubled life cut short when Beattie died by suicide in 2008 at 40. She was a sexual assault survivor who battled mental illness and addiction. Through it all, she was a force of nature and a pop culture figure as Siren on the TV game show American Gladiators, which rose to prominence in the 1990s. She also landed a spot on the first all-female America’s Cup team despite having no previous sailing experience.
Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin produced this documentary and, in addition to being deaf, reveals that she has a lot in common with Beattie. She also serves as a guide and interviewer, helping narrate the story. Matlin provides valuable context for people who might not understand the challenges and discrimination deaf people face. She also understands the unique pressures of being thrust into the limelight early. Matlin won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Children of a Lesser God at 21 in 1987.
Beattie won amateur bodybuilding titles before turning professional, but she gained her greatest notoriety as a competitor on American Gladiators. She was popular, and many stories portrayed her as an inspiration. But as Siren points out, her story went beyond that. Director Irene Taylor delves into her frustrations with the show and the isolation a deaf person can feel when accessibility is lacking.
That wasn’t the only difficulty Beattie faced. Through interviews with family and friends, viewers will gain insight into what it was like to overcome a troubled childhood and endure a troubled adulthood. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, an estimated 50% of the deaf community has been sexually assaulted in their lifetimes. However, only 5% of Deaf survivors report the abuse. Siren explains the details of Beattie’s abuse and the circumstances that enabled this abuse.
Siren is raw and brutally honest, which makes some scenes difficult to watch. It doesn’t pull punches, even when discussing accusations against Beattie herself. What is clear is that after Beattie left the spotlight, she had an increasingly hard time adjusting to a “regular life,” and her struggles with bipolar disorder intensified.
As fascinating as Siren is, this documentary has one major issue. The lack of information about exactly how Beattie died will likely confuse some. As the 103-minute feature wraps up, you keep waiting for a summation that never arrives. In the end, you’ll have to search online to learn more.
It’s a minor complaint in an otherwise terrific documentary. Viewers will gain a better understanding of a remarkable person who, through sheer will and strength, built a life no one expected and deserves full recognition. This is one of the best documentaries of the year.
Siren: The Voices of Shelley Beattie is now streaming on HBO Max.
About Michael Grant
Born in Jamaica. Grew up in New York City. Lives in Louisville, Ky. Sports writer. Not related to Ulysses S. Grant.