Celebrities with ADHD: Simone Biles, Emma Watson, Johnny Depp, Channing Tatum

Simone Biles, one of the most acclaimed gymnasts in American history, was acknowledged with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022, making her at the time the youngest recipient of the prestigious civilian honor.

After hackers revealed her confidential medical records revealing her use of prescribed medications for ADHD, she bravely addressed the situation, reinforcing the fact that there is no shame in having ADHD and taking medication for it.

Renowned Irish actor Barry Keoghan suspected that he had ADHD growing up, his suspicions were confirmed in his late twenties. Voicing the importance of acknowledging ADHD, especially in adults, he credits his medication in effectively managing his symptoms.

Well known for her roles in Mean Girls on Broadway and the film and TV series The Sex Lives of College Girls, actress and singer was open about her childhood experience of living with undiagnosed ADHD. She now acknowledges her condition and it's part in her success.

The director, scriptwriter, and actress of popular movies like Lady Bird, Little Women, and Barbie, disclosed her ADHD diagnosis in a Guardian interview, saying how her abundant enthusiasm and curiosity led to a fruitful career in filmmaking.

Superstar Justin Timberlake's OCD and ADHD didn't deter him from establishing a successful entertainment career. In a conversation with collider.com, he shared some of his challenges living with these conditions.

Swimming legend Michael Phelps was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 9. Despite this, he went on to become the most decorated Olympian of all time by winning a record-breaking 23 gold medals. Swimming has helped him manage his symptoms by keeping him disciplined and focused.

Emma Watson, who enchanted us as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series, has been medicating her ADHD since her childhood. Despite her condition, she has succeeded in various endeavors including graduating from an Ivy League school, starring in several films, and serving as a UN Goodwill ambassador.

A renowned actor recounted his childhood struggles with undiagnosed ADHD, dyslexia, and depression and shared how he came to terms with his conditions and encouraged others to seek help.

Zach Wilson, a current player for the New York Jets, was diagnosed with ADHD in his childhood. Despite his condition, he has held an unwavering focus and passion for football.The JetBlue Airways founder, David Neeleman, is his uncle and vocal about his own ADHD condition.

Image/screenshot by the Atlanta Falcons (video uploaded to YouTube with CC BY license)

The co-director of Everything Everywhere All at Once discovered he had ADHD during his research for the highly acclaimed film. In a 2022 interview with Salon, he shared his realization and diagnosis process.

"Looking back at the film, it's evident it was crafted by a person grappling with ADHD," he said.

Jon Stewart's retirement from The Emmy and Peabody Award-winning show, The Daily Show in 2015, introduced the world to his handpicked successor, Trevor Noah. The South African comedian, who was relatively unknown at the time, is now a household name and a force to reckon with in the entertainment domain.

In a CBS interview with Leslie Stahl, Noah opened up about his personal battle with ADHD and depression.

"My struggle with depression is deeply intertwined with severe ADHD, as confirmed by expert therapists," Noah shared. "If I don't maintain a well-regulated routine which includes good sleep and eating habits, I can become overwhelmed, with everything feeling unbearably heavy."

The co-existence of depression and ADHD exacerbates the symptoms of both. It's projected that adults with ADHD have 2.7 times higher chances of suffering from depression than the general adult population.

The actor shined a light on his learning difficulties, including ADHD and dyslexia during a discussion with New York Times' style magazine. He confided to T magazine, "Being put in a class with students having autism and Down syndrome makes you question your standing. You also feel out of place in normal classes, so it's a constant state of ambiguity. You're just different."

The English actress and singer-songwriter publicly confirmed her ADHD diagnosis during an interview with The Guardian.

"ADHD seems to have a genetic link in my family," Allen stated. Her brother, Alfie Allen, is also an ADHD patient. She added that this diagnosis was possible due to American healthcare, which takes ADHD more seriously than in England.

The English actor who skyrocketed to fame with his character Theon Grey in Game of Thrones, was diagnosed with ADHD as a child. "I always found it difficult to focus on anything for a substantial period in school," he confessed to The Independent in 2007.

His sister, British singer-songwriter and actress Lily Allen, also struggles with ADHD.

In his July 2020 YouTube video titled 'In Defense of Our Teachers,' Foo Fighters' frontman and Nirvana's former drummer exposed his ADHD diagnosis from childhood. He confessed this was the reason behind his poor education outcomes and premature withdrawal from high school.

"I have to admit, I was a not-so-great student," confessed Grohl. "I was stubbornly disinterested despite the best efforts of the Fairfax public school system, with a constant battle with ADD and an irrepressible urge to create music. Even though I tried my best to stay focused, I eventually dropped out in the middle of 11th grade to pursue a professional career in music- an ill-advised choice. I let go of countless missed opportunities."

Two-time Grammy Award winner Solange Knowles has been diagnosed with ADHD twice; the first diagnosis she was skeptical of.

"I initially thought ADHD was just a made-up condition meant to sell medicine, but when a second doctor diagnosed me with it, I had to believe it," she candidly revealed to BlackDoctor.org.

Best known for her roles in television series like Freaks and Geeks, Dawson's Creek, Cougar Town, and Girls5eva, Philipps confessed to SheKnows that her childhood ADHD diagnosis was forgotten and left untreated until she reached adulthood. According to her, the newfound treatment for ADHD had brought positive changes to her mental health. "The most transformative aspect of ADHD medication was its impact on my mild depression and underlying feelings of low self-esteem and anxiety," she shared with the publication.

Click captured by Daniel Benavides from Austin, TX, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Author, speaker, and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast, Mel Robbins, frequently discusses her struggle with ADHD and mental health. She discovered her ADHD diagnosis at the age of 47. "I spent my life grappling with ADHD symptoms and crippling anxiety related to it, and I found out about my diagnosis purely by chance," she shared in a podcast episode post.

In July 2020, court documents marked actor Johnny Depp's ADHD and mood disorder diagnoses amidst his fight against substance abuse fueled by an oxycodone dependency.

While revealing his journey with ADHD in his book Keep It Simple, four-time Super Bowl champion turned sports analyst and commentator, Terry Bradshaw unveiled that he has been dealing with a mood disorder as well. However, his diagnoses did not obstruct his journey to being inducted into the National Football League's Hall of Fame.

Dr. Raven Baxter, also known as Dr. Raven the Science Maven, is a molecular biologist and science communicator. She's gained popularity with her videos that explain scientific concepts, often using popular hip-hop and rap tunes. She uses her multiple social media platforms to share her knowledge about science.

Known for being outspoken about her ADHD diagnosis since childhood, Raven uses her platforms to share her experiences, including both the highs and lows.

A game-show host and comedian/actor has openly discussed his experiences with ADHD, OCD, a mood disorder, and anxiety. He even chronicled his lifetime struggles and adult diagnoses in his book, Here’s the Deal: Don’t Touch Me! He hopes his story will encourage others to seek assistance.

A Grammy Award-winning recording artist uses music to manage his ADHD. He states that music acts as his therapy for ADHD, allowing him to control his focus and thoughts.

The lead singer of Maroon 5 who also coaches vocals on the popular TV show The Voice, excels as an adult with ADHD. Although diagnosed early and managed in childhood, the adult stage saw times when the symptoms of Levine's ADHD became overpowering. When he started finding difficulty in recording music, he realized it was time to get help. He now actively promotes understanding of ADHD and reassures his fans that they're not alone with their struggles against ADHD.

The Oscar-winning documentary film director, recognized for notable works like Navalny and Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band, discussed his coping strategies with ADHD during a NPR interview. Raher divulged that drawing and painting helps his focus due to his ADD, and often did so during the filming of Navalny.

Dav Pilkey, the creator of Captain Underpants and Dog Man series, was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia as a child. His bio on his website mentions, 'He was so disruptive in class that his teachers made him sit out in the hallway every day'. It was during these hallway periods that Pilkey would draw and create his own comic books, which were the initial adventures of Dog Man and Captain Underpants.

Lisa Ling – a well-known journalist, started suspecting that she might have ADHD during a show themed around ADHD named "Our America With Lisa Ling". Her extensive reporting on the disorder persuaded her to undergo an evaluation, leading to her diagnosis as an adult. She stated that she felt 'a little bit of relief', as she'd always struggled with her inability to focus and battled against it.

Crediting his ADHD for his drive and remarkable creativity, singer, songwriter, model, and actor Sam Fender narrated to the BBC, 'I've got ADHD, as you might be able to tell, and when you get hyper-focused in ADHD, it's like a superpower.'

Astronaut Scott Kelly, who grew up at a time when ADHD was not popular, believes that 'If I was a kid today, I would have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD'. Despite promising himself every year to pay attention in class and get his work done, he found it constantly challenging. However, after reading The Right Stuff, a book about astronauts, his motivation to change his habits and strive for his future career was sparked. Describing the moment he said, 'I just decided right then and there that this is what I’m going to do.'

The animated energy of Ty Pennington, the host of the show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, hints at his ADHD diagnosis in childhood. His hyperactivity is now managed with the help of prescribed stimulant medication. Yvonne Pennington, his mother, is supportive of the approach, appreciating the positive transformation in her son due to the very traits that once held him back.

Karina Smirnoff, known from Dancing with the Stars, battled with undiagnosed ADHD throughout her life. After proper diagnosis in adulthood, she worked with her doctor to determine the ideal treatment for her impulsivity and inattentiveness. In an interview with ABC News, she mentioned that Vyvanse helps control her symptoms. As a professional dancer, Smirnoff channels her ADHD energy into her work.

This Major League Baseball player remains outspoken about his life-long battle with ADHD. According to an interview with ESPN.com, ADHD made Victorino a hot-headed child. He amassed 10 ER visits before he was diagnosed with ADHD at age eight. Victorino continues to manage his ADHD symptoms through counseling and medication. In spite of his hyperactive tendencies, ADHD hasn’t stopped him from becoming a World Series hero.

Successful political strategist turned TV personality, James Carville, did not always have such a winning streak. According to an interview with Health.com, he flunked out of college due to his ADHD. Today, Carville credits his ADHD with keeping him hyperfocused, adaptable, and full of energy — the winning combination for a fast-paced career in politics.

Actor Bex Taylor-Klaus is most known for their roles in The Killing, Arrow, Scream, and Voltron: Legendary Defender. Their advice to others with ADHD? 'Embrace it. It may be a nuisance, it may be hard to deal with sometimes, but you can learn to manage it. Don't ever try to get rid of it entirely. Attention deficit makes you special.'