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Tom Holland has shared his experiences of living with ADHD and dyslexia in an open new interview.
The Spider-Man actor, 29, has detailed how these diagnoses impact his daily work life and what strategies help him manage them.
For those who may not know, according to the NHS website, ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a condition that makes your brain function differently from most people. Common symptoms include difficulty paying attention, high energy levels, impulsiveness, and poor time management.
Dyslexia, on the other hand, is a common learning difficulty that primarily affects reading, writing, and spelling abilities. It does not impact intelligence, and it's estimated that up to one in every 10 people in the UK experiences some form of dyslexia.
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Holland's admission came about when he was discussing his latest collaboration with LEGO—a short film titled ‘Never Stop Playing,’ which promotes the idea that growing up doesn't mean you have to stop playing.
This message appears to have strongly resonated with the Hollywood star.
When questioned about the significance of play, he told IGN: "I think it really does help. I have ADHD and I'm dyslexic, and sometimes a blank canvas can be slightly intimidating for me."
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Regarding his career, he added: "And sometimes you encounter these challenges when developing a character."
The Marvel actor continued: "So any opportunity to engage with something that forces creativity, whether you're young or an adult, encourages thinking outside the box and making modifications, whether or not they're in an instruction manual, fosters healthy creativity.
"And I believe that the more we engage in such activities, the better."
In addition to building LEGO, Holland revealed that he enjoys sports like golf and paddle tennis, as well as playing online chess with his brother Harry, 26, during his free time.
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Although the actor has not previously spoken much about his ADHD challenges, he has mentioned his dyslexia and its impact on his school days.
In July 2023, he appeared on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast and talked about the support he received from his parents, Dominic and Nikki Holland.
On the podcast, he explained: "My dyslexia mainly affects my spelling.
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"Spelling was my biggest hurdle. I worked really hard at school. I didn’t excel academically, but my parents always encouraged me by saying, ‘As long as you try your best.’"
And when asked about how he perseveres in his career, in 2021 he told YouTuber Jazlyn Guerra that patience is essential.
Holland said: "It’s just about taking your time… allowing yourself enough time to accomplish what you need to do.
"The better prepared you are for anything, the more you’ll be able to achieve and accomplish remarkable things."
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