'Siren: The Voices of Shelley Beattie' tells a bodybuilder's story via Marlee Matlin

This is read by an automated voice.Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.

See more from the L.A.Times in Google Search.

Set us as preferred When Shelley Beattie lost her hearing as a child, she became withdrawn.When she started getting into trouble as a teen, her parents moved her into foster care where “bad things” happened.

Beattie buckled but didn’t break — at least not then.In Irene Taylor’s “Siren: The Voices of Shelley Beattie,” premiering Tuesday on HBO and streaming on HBO Max, Beattie transforms herself first as a track athlete and then a bodybuilder, leading to minor celebrity as Siren on “American Gladiators.” But Beattie never fully healed from her childhood traumas, struggling with addiction and mental health issues until killing herself at 41 in 2008.Well DocumentedWith networks and streamers seeking to create compelling content, many have found the answer in true stories.But with the surge in documentaries, it can be hard to sift through what’s worth your time.

Each month, we provide an inside look at a documentary and others you should add to your queue.Taylor, a child of deaf parents, was brought into the project by Oscar-winning actor Marlee Matlin, who serves as a producer and an on-screen presence, introducing the story and giving voice to Beattie’s writings.Matlin spoke recently by video through interpreter and producing partner Jack Jason about Beattie and the film.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.How did this come about?During the pandemic, I was so bored out of my mind that one night close to midnight I just typed “deaf women” in Google search.And Shelley’s name popped up first.

I thought, “Why and how could I not know about her?”I had to explore who she was.I was so mesmerized by her story and couldn’t take my eyes off of her.

I still wonder why our paths didn’t cross, even though we were on the same network at the same time.I wished we had a chance to meet....