Actor Tom Holland has received praise for his "powerful" words after opening up about how dyslexia has affected him.
The Spider-Man star revealed that he turned down a job hosting Saturday Night Live (SNL) because of the "inconvenience of reading the script when the words are constantly changing.".
In the American sketch comedy show, hosts use cue cards during their performances.
«"They've asked me about it several times, and frankly, I'm just really scared," he said, adding that he suffers from "severe dyslexia.".
According to the UK's National Health Service (NHS), dyslexia is a common learning disability in which a person's brain works differently to most people.
It primarily affects skills such as reading, writing, and working with numbers. There is no cure, but there are ways to manage the condition.
«"That kind of honesty really helps others feel seen and understood," says Kay Carter of the Dyslexia Association, adding that Holland's words are "powerful and truly courageous.".
James Taylor, of equality charity Scope, said: "This highlights the real difficulties disabled people can face in the workplace or in the spotlight.".
On Amy Poehler's Good Hang podcast, the 30-year-old actor said he loves SNL and "the idea of having fun and making a fool of yourself in such a creative way.".
«"The thought of trying to read something and finding that the text has changed just terrifies me.".
«"Extra effort is needed"»
Ashley Walker, who has suffered from dyslexia all her life, says Holland's comments "delight" her because it's something "not talked about enough.".
«"This is especially true for people who suffer from it themselves. We tend to avoid talking about it because of the stigma," she said in an interview with BBC Newsbeat.
In his interview, Holland also mentioned that he is terrified of the script reading and tries to prepare for it as best as possible.
«"When I have to read aloud, it creates a kind of psychological barrier. And I can freeze in place," he told Poehler.
«"Just like at a table read, I'll try to highlight all the important points and learn my lines in advance.".
Ashley, 25, understands Holland's concerns, especially regarding her childhood.
«"They would ask you, 'Please read aloud to the class.' It was a terrible experience.".
«"Because while reading you can lose the thread of the story.".
According to government statistics, 6.3 million people in the UK have dyslexia, and one in six adults has the same reading level as an 11-year-old.
Ashley Walker hopes Holland's words will inspire others to seek help. [Ashley Walker]
Ashley adds that it's a great example of how someone as famous as Holland can have dyslexia and still have a successful career, but she wishes he would have spoken "more" about his experience.
«"Unfortunately, people with dyslexia can only adapt successfully to certain conditions," she says, adding that there are difficulties due to the ubiquitous use of language.
Later this year, Holland will star in Spider-Man: New Day alongside his co-star Zendaya.
«"It's great to see someone with dyslexia show that despite challenges, you can work hard and succeed," Ashley says.
«But to achieve the goal, you need to put in extra effort.».
-
«"Honey, it's artificial intelligence," Zendaya says, adding that fans aren't the only ones who have been fooled by the fake wedding photos.
-
A tool for mass screening of dyslexia is being developed.
-
Enriching or annoying? Spider-Noir transforms the Spider-Man universe into a black-and-white space.
Ashley is an artist, and because of dyslexia, she uses pictures instead of words to create comics.
And she emphasizes that everyone has their own individual experience, not that the disease affects people the same way.
For her, this manifests itself in a «very bad memory.».
«"That's why I tend to make lists. Sometimes I forget to make them, but that's inevitable when you've been living with it for so long.".
Dyslexia is not diagnosed by the UK National Health Service (NHS). Dyslexia is recognized as a specific learning disability, meaning it is assessed through educational assessment.
The diagnosis can only be made by a school psychologist registered with the Health and Social Professions Council or a specialist teacher with a valid registration.
But Ashley hopes Holland's words will help raise awareness for those who may be struggling but are hesitant to seek help.
«"I think any information on this issue would be helpful.".
«"The more people know about it, the more people will be diagnosed," she says.
-
For further information and support, you can visit the BBC Action Line.
[BBC]
Listen to Newsbeat live weekdays at 12:45pm and 5:45pm – or listen to the recording here.
