Small Wonders

Deborah Snyder Makes Movies About Superheroes, But For Her, Real Power Is Being Able To Do The Little Things.

- Jill Tyrer

To fans of Wonder Woman, Aquaman and other superhero movies that she produced, Deborah Snyder might seem a little larger than life herself.

Perceptive, energetic and determined, she has a career beyond most people’s dreams; she has a supportive family and husband, Zack Snyder, who’s also her business partner; and she’s helping more women get behind-the-camera jobs in films – one of her passions.

But every superhero has a villain, and Deborah’s is adult on set Still’s disease, a rare form of autoimmune arthritis. It left her with hip damage that made even walking difficult for years.

Seeing her relaxing with one leg tucked under her – something she never could have done a few years ago – it’s impossible to tell that she has arthritis, or that she still takes medication and has had both hips replaced.

For the first time in 13 years, Deborah went skiing last year. “It was something I didn’t think I’d ever do again,” she says.

A Sudden Setback In 2007, production was just beginning in Vancouver on the Snyders’ film Watchmen. After fighting a sore throat, achy neck and intermittent spiking fever for a few weeks, Deborah sought help from a doctor. Just hours before a pre-production party, the doctor called with her test results, and told her to get to an emergency room immediately.