I had no idea they were dyslexic!

Whether it is the most recent Olympics, the latest Marvel movie or being a Swiftie at the Eras tour, it is human nature to seek someone to look up to. As adults, we may talk about family members as inspiration but for children often their ‘heroes’ are people they have seen succeed on a global stage and are usually household names.

For children diagnosed with dyslexia, finding someone who is ‘like them’ can be a massive relief for their own self esteem but also for parents. Finding a person whose brain works in similar ways who has also faced the same potential struggles, yet has overcome them, can be a huge source of inspiration. As adults, we may know the likes of Richard Branson, Walt Disney, Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso, Steve Jobs and Steven Spielberg to name but a few, as successful people with dyslexia, but unfortunately for the current youth of today, these names are often met with a subsequent, ‘who?’!

In this blog, Frankie, our in-house dyslexia assessor highlights some current famous faces who are dyslexic and have used their ‘superpower’ to their advantage.

Mimi Webb

Having featured at the majority of festivals over the last few summers and her songs being a constant on the radio, Mimi Webb is certainly one of the most popular and successful pop stars of the current moment. With her debut track being streamed 25 million times on Spotify and gaining over 85 million views on Tiktok, Mimi has certainly made and continues to make her mark on today’s music industry.

She hasn’t let her dyslexia slow her down and her current success is testament to this. In an interview last year, Mimi was quoted as saying she found school tough because of her dyslexia as she wasn’t always able to communicate in the way she wanted to and felt she didn’t fit in, but music has been her outlet allowing her to do this.

Tom Holland (Spiderman)

Diagnosed with dyslexia at 7 years old, Tom acknowledges the importance of giving yourself all the time you need to read. Along with his impressive acting portfolio, he is a skilled gymnast and by combining both of these passions he was able to land the superhero role which he is well known for today.

Tom has commented that he used to get teased for his spelling and grammar mistakes, but this wasn’t something that he has let stop him as he has gone on to become one of Hollywood’s finest and is currently starring in Romeo and Juliet in London’s West End.

Lewis Hamilton

A major supporter of educational charities and arguably one of the best Formula 1 drivers to ever grace the track, Lewis Hamilton has spoken openly about his struggles at school with dyslexia, particularly given that he did not receive his diagnosis until he was 17 years old. He is an advocate of constantly learning and accepting failures as part of the road to success. In many of his interviews, Lewis talks about encouragement, determination and never giving up and credits his Dad as being the one who helped him to develop and maintain this mindset.

Lucy Bronze

Winner of ‘Best FIFA Women’s Player’ and pivotal member of the Lionesses European Championship winning team, Lucy Bronze has used her dyslexia to her advantage as she has received over 125 caps for her country. Lucy’s dyslexia was a catalyst for her feeling anxious during her time at school, but since then she has embedded strategies to cope with this, and this has certainly been evident on the pitch when you look at how many times she has kept her cool and led her team to victory.

Noah Lyles

One of the most memorable athletes from this year’s Olympics, whether you like him or not, Noah Lyles’ talent, passion and determination cannot be overlooked. He has openly spoken about his neurodivergence and become a role model for young people by discussing the struggles and bullying he faced when he was younger, using it all to fuel a determination and resilience which has now led to him becoming not only an Olympic champion, but the fastest man on Earth.

Kobe Bryant

If you have ever played basketball, it is likely you’ve heard the word ‘Kobe’ shouted as a shot is released. One of the most prolific scorers, and arguably one of the greatest of all time, the late Kobe Bryant did not speak much about his dyslexia publicly, instead sticking to communities where he knew he could make an impact with people who could relate to his struggles. Kobe’s ‘Mamba mentality’ – pushing yourself to be the best you can be, no matter what – will be a phrase known well within the basketball community, but it is one which can be of inspiration to us all.

Concluding thoughts

These individuals above are just a selection of the many, many successful people who have dyslexia and are achieving their dreams. A quick google will give endless lists of celebrities, sportsmen/women, entrepreneurs, painters, academics, politicians, members of the Royal Family and many more who have dyslexia and are not letting it stop them, so please do encourage your children to look up to these inspirations and realise that dyslexia is not a reason to hold themselves back.

And, one final point, did you know that 10% of the population is dyslexic, yet 40% of self- made millionaires are dyslexic? Use that determination to do whatever you want to!

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