From Ant McPartlin to Simone Biles, these well-known figures have spoken openly about their ADHD diagnosis — and what it means to them.
One of the most powerful things to happen to ADHD awareness in recent years has been the number of well-known figures speaking openly about their own diagnoses. When someone you admire describes exactly the way your mind works, something shifts. It stops feeling like a personal failing and starts feeling like a neurological difference shared by a surprisingly wide range of people.
The people below have all publicly confirmed their own ADHD diagnosis in their own words. Their experiences are very different — some were diagnosed as children, others in their thirties, forties, or beyond — but the common thread is the same: understanding how their brain works changed things.
Note: This article only includes people who have publicly confirmed their own diagnosis. We have not included anyone based on rumour or third-party speculation.
One half of the UK's best-loved presenting duo was diagnosed with ADHD in 2018 following a difficult period in his personal life. Rather than treating the diagnosis as something to be managed around, McPartlin spoke about it as genuinely illuminating. He described "popcorn thinking" — the ability to jump rapidly from one idea to another — as something that had actually served him well in live television, even if it made personal life more chaotic. "I found stuff out about me I hadn't addressed for years," he told The Sun.
The TV presenter received his ADHD diagnosis at 42 and has since been one of the most candid British voices on the subject of late diagnosis. He has described the relief of finally having a framework for understanding himself — better sleep, reduced drinking, a calmer daily life. "My ADHD is who I am. I wouldn't change it for the world," he has said.
The Virgin founder was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia as a child and performed poorly academically. His headmaster famously told him he would either end up in prison or become a millionaire. Branson has spoken extensively about how the traits associated with ADHD — risk-taking, restlessness, a tendency to think differently — became core to his business approach.
The celebrity chef has spoken about being diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia during his childhood and about how these shaped both his struggles at school and his eventual career. Oliver has described how the hands-on, fast-moving nature of cooking gave him a natural outlet for the energy and enthusiasm that didn't work well in a classroom.
The director of Barbie and Little Women revealed her ADHD diagnosis in an interview with The Guardian, describing a childhood of intense enthusiasm, a racing imagination, and deep emotional responses to everything. "I've always had a tremendous amount of enthusiasm. I was just interested in, like, everything," she said. For Gerwig, the diagnosis helped make sense of a mind that was always moving faster than the world around it.
The most decorated gymnast in history has been open about her ADHD since 2016, when her private medical records were leaked by hackers. Rather than staying quiet, Biles addressed it directly and publicly. "Having ADHD, and taking medicine for it, is nothing to be ashamed of, nothing that I'm afraid of," she said on social media at the time.
The singer-songwriter was diagnosed with ADHD after moving to the United States. She has spoken about the diagnosis as a clarifying moment — one that helped explain years of feeling like she was constantly running at a different frequency to everyone around her. Allen has been particularly candid about the relationship between ADHD and the need to step away from social media.
The Spider-Man actor has spoken about being diagnosed with ADHD as a child and about how dance — which he trained in from a young age — became a way of channelling the physical energy that came with it. Holland has described school as a genuine challenge and has been open about the performing arts providing structure that more traditional academic environments couldn't.
The model and actress has spoken extensively about her ADHD diagnosis as a teenager and about the confusion and guilt she felt growing up without fully understanding why her mind worked the way it did. Delevingne has described learning to work with, rather than against, her neurology as central to her wellbeing.
The details differ — different careers, different ages of diagnosis, different ways of describing the experience. But a few themes run through almost all of them:
Perhaps most importantly, none of these people present ADHD as something to overcome or transcend. They present it as part of how they think — something to understand, accommodate, and in many cases, build on.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or a diagnosis of any condition. If you are concerned about your mental health, please speak to your GP or a qualified healthcare professional. ADHD Navigator lists accredited private clinics across England at adhdnavigator.co.uk — free to use.
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