Tom Holland is the guy who made Spider-Man cooler than ever. He’s charming, quick, funny, and flips through the air like it’s no big deal. But when it comes to breathing life into those iconic characters, turns out, there’s more going on behind the scenes than just table reads.
Behind all the action-packed scenes, Holland has been tackling challenges of his own. In a recent interview, the actor opened up about having two major disorders and how both have played a big role in how he thinks, learns, and performs.
Tom Holland Opens Up About His Personal Struggles
While promoting his new LEGO short film, Tom Holland sat down for an interview with IGN. The film is all about the importance of play and creativity, and it’s a topic that’s really close to his heart. But the reason wasn’t just emotional; it was something very personal.
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Mid-conversation, he said, “I have ADHD and I’m dyslexic,” he said. “And I find sometimes when someone gives me a blank canvas that it can be slightly intimidating.” As the conversation continued, he explained that structured tasks can sometimes feel limiting, but creativity, especially playful creativity, is where he thrives.
Instead of seeing play as just fun, Tom sees it as a tool. Something that helps him think differently, stay focused, and approach each role in his own way. “Any way that you can interact with something that forces you to be creative and think outside the box,” he said, “the better.”
How Holland Overcame His Issues
Tom’s been figuring this out since childhood. He was diagnosed with dyslexia at age seven, and school wasn’t easy. Spelling, especially, was rough. But his parents were never the ones to push grades; they pushed effort. “My parents said, ‘As long as you try your best,’” he shared on Jay Shetty’s podcast back in 2023.
That encouragement helped him explore learning in his own way. Instead of focusing only on academics, he leaned into what made sense for him: movement, imagination, and performance. Instead of forcing himself into a system that didn’t fit, he leaned into his expertise: dance, drama, and movement.
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That led to Billy Elliot the Musical in London’s West End. And that eventually led to Spider-Man, world tours, and fishnet stockings on national TV. (More on that later.) So when Tom says play helps him think and create, he means it. He’s been using it as a tool his entire life.
Tom Holland has never branded himself as a role model. But the more he opens up, the more people relate to him. Whether it’s talking about needing a break from social media or setting boundaries for his mental health, Holland has always kept it real. Sharing his ADHD and dyslexia journey is just one more way he’s showing fans that there’s no one right way to succeed. Not in school, in Hollywood, or in life.
Tom is currently filming ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day‘, his fourth solo Spider-Man movie. But this time, Peter Parker isn’t saving the universe with billionaire tech or backup from Doctor Strange. After the events of ‘No Way Home‘, Peter’s identity has been erased from everyone’s memory. No one remembers him; not MJ, not Ned, not the Avengers. He’s starting over, alone. ‘Brand New Day‘ will soon hit the theaters, and we can’t wait to see him on screens!
