Dyslexia is common, and a lot of well known people have talked openly about it. Their stories matter because they show something we see every day in our work with employers: dyslexic people often do things differently, and the right environment turns those differences into strengths. Here are ten public figures who have spoken about being dyslexic.
What is dyslexia?
The British Dyslexia Association describes dyslexia as a specific learning difficulty that mainly affects reading and writing, and more broadly how information is processed and remembered. It also notes that many dyslexic people have strengths in reasoning and in visual and creative fields. Dyslexia is lifelong, and it shows up differently from person to person.
Ten well known dyslexic people
1. Tom Cruise
The American actor and producer, known for Top Gun and the Mission: Impossible films, has spoken publicly about growing up dyslexic.
2. Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley, star of Pride and Prejudice and the Pirates of the Caribbean films, was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of six and has talked about it in interviews.
3. Jennifer Aniston
Best known as Rachel in Friends, Jennifer Aniston has spoken in interviews about being dyslexic.
4. Jamie Oliver
The chef, campaigner and bestselling cookbook author has been open about being severely dyslexic. He is a good reminder that reading and writing difficulties say nothing about someone’s creativity or drive.
5. Richard Branson
The founder of the Virgin Group has written about his dyslexia in his autobiography, Losing My Virginity, and has spoken about it regularly since.
6. Orlando Bloom
The actor, known for The Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean, was identified as dyslexic at school. His mother encouraged him to take art and drama classes, which set him on the path to acting.
7. Holly Willoughby
The TV presenter, long associated with ITV’s This Morning, responded to people criticising her spelling online by telling them she is dyslexic.
8. Guy Ritchie
The British film director behind Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch is dyslexic and left school at 15.
9. Darcey Bussell
The former Royal Ballet principal dancer and Strictly Come Dancing judge has spoken about being dyslexic, including how hard she found school.
10. Mo Gilligan
The comedian and presenter has talked openly about his dyslexia, with the message that dyslexia does not have to hold anyone back.
What these stories mean for work
None of these people succeeded by becoming less dyslexic. They found work that suited the way they think, and in most cases someone along the way made room for that. Workplaces can do the same on purpose rather than by luck.
Small changes make a big difference: clear written information, dyslexia friendly formatting, assistive technology such as text to speech, and less reliance on timed written tests. Our dyslexia style guide shows how to format documents, and our guide to dyslexia in the workplace covers adjustments in more depth. For the legal side, our summary of a tribunal case on dyslexia and reasonable adjustments shows what can go wrong when adjustments are ignored.
If you enjoyed this list, you might also like our profiles of seven inspiring neurodivergent women, and our thoughts on moving from dyslexia awareness to action.
How Enna can help
Dyslexic and looking for your next move? Browse roles on our jobs board, set up job alerts so you hear about new vacancies first, and use our CV advice to show your strengths clearly.
Employers who want dyslexic colleagues to do their best work can start with a workplace needs assessment to identify the right adjustments, or book a call to talk about training for your managers.
