Tom Holland says ADHD and dyslexia shape his acting through LEGO play

Tom Holland, the actor best known for playing Spider-Man, said he manages both dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and that creative play helps him navigate those challenges. Speaking while promoting a two minute LEGO short titled Never Stop Playing, Holland said the combination of conditions can make certain aspects of acting intimidating but that play and imaginative work are practical coping tools.

"I have ADHD and I'm dyslexic, and I find sometimes when someone gives me a blank canvas that it can be slightly intimidating," Holland told IGN. He added that projects that force him to "think outside the box" and make changes that may not be spelled out in an instruction manual help promote healthy creativity and improve his ability to develop characters.

Holland voiced multiple characters in the LEGO short, which mixes live action and animation and features cameo appearances by his brothers. He described a lifelong connection to LEGO, recalling childhood competitions with his siblings and an on‑set memory from Spider-Man: Homecoming when he and co-star Jacob Batalon built a LEGO Death Star as part of a scene. Holland said the version that appeared in the film...