Tom Holland praised for 'powerful' message on dyslexia after turning down SNL role
Actor Tom Holland has been praised for his "powerful" words after opening up about the impact dyslexia has had on him.
Actor Tom Holland has been praised for his "powerful" words after opening up about the impact dyslexia has had on him.
The Spider-Man star revealed he turned down presenting Saturday Night Live (SNL) because of the "concept of trying to read something and they [the words] change".
The US comedy sketch show features cue cards to guide hosts through their performances.
"They've asked me a few times to do it and the truth is that I'm just really scared," he said, adding he's "heavily dyslexic".
According to the NHS, dyslexia is a common learning difficulty where your brain works differently to most people.
It mainly affects things like reading, writing and using numbers. There is no cure but there are things you can do to help manage the condition.
"That kind of honesty really helps others feel seen and understood," says Kay Carter from The Dyslexia Association, adding, Holland's words are "powerful and genuinely brave".
James Taylor from equality charity Scope feels "it highlights the real challenges disabled people can face at work or in the spotlight".
Speaking on Amy Poehler's podcast Good Hang, 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".
"I'm just so petrified at the concept of trying to read something and they change."
Ashley Walker has lived with dyslexia her entire life and says Holland's comments make her "feel happy" because it "isn't spoken about enough".
"Especially by people who have it. We tend to try and not speak about it because of the stigma," she tells BBC Newsbeat.
In his interview, Holland also mentioned he dreads a read-through for his roles and tries his best to prepare for it.
"When I have to read out loud, it just becomes like a kind of mental block. And I can freeze," he told Poehler.
"Like at the read-through, I will try and highlight everything and learn my lines ahead of time."
Ashley, 25, relates to Holland's experiences, particularly when she was a child.
"They would ask you: 'please read out loud to the class'. It was a horrible experience.
"Because you can lose your place while you're reading."
Government statistics show that 6.3 million people in the UK have dyslexia, while one in six adults have the reading level of an 11-year-old.
Ashley adds it's a great example that someone as high-profile as Holland can have dyslexia and a successful career, but she wishes he went into "more depth" about his experiences.
"Unfortunately, due to dyslexia people can only thrive in certain places," she says, adding there are challenges because of language being used everywhere.
Later this year, Holland will be starring in Spider-Man: Brand New Day alongside his partner Zendaya.
"It is nice to see someone who has dyslexia has shown that even though it's hard, you can work hard and you can get there," Ashley says.
"But you do have to go that extra mile to be able to get there."
Ashley is an artist and uses images instead of words to create comics, due to her dyslexia.
And she emphasises everyone has their own individual experience - rather than it being a condition which affects people in the same way.
For her, it's having "a really bad memory".
"So I tend to make lists. Sometimes I forget the lists, but that's what you have to do when you've lived with it for so long."
A dyslexia diagnosis is not available via the NHS. It is recognised as a specific learning difficulty and this means it is an educational assessment.
A diagnosis can only be made by an educational psychologist who is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council or a specialist teacher with a valid registration.
But Ashley hopes that Holland's words can help raise awareness for those who may be struggling but reluctant to seek help.
"I think any light on the subject is good.
"The more people will know about it, the more people will get diagnosed," she says.
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
