Marlee's Dancing in the Street

Academy Award winning actress Marlee Matlin was in a great mood, joking and laughing with photographers as she took a stroll following lunch at popular LA eatery Joan's on Third yesterday. The profoundly deaf actress, who has had supporting roles on "The West Wing," "My Name is Earl" and "The L Word" has just been unveiled as one of the contestants on the forthcoming series of the hit ABC reality show "Dancing with the Stars," partnered with Fabian Sanchez, 2006's World Mambo Champ. In an email to the New York Post, Marlee explained how she would be able to dance in the competition without actually being able to hear the music. The actress, who wears powerful digital hearing aids, says “it’s about that rhythm I have inside me. I’ve got groove because my heart beats just like everyone else’s. The trick for me is to use what I’ve got to sync up with the music that comes through my dance partner’s moves." We'll find out if Marlee has the music in her when the new season debuts on March 17.