People in the public eye who have spoken about their own ADHD or ADD diagnosis, in their own words. Sometimes it helps to know you’re in good company.
Only first-hand diagnoses are included: people talking about their own ADHD, not others speculating about them. I’m working through checking each quote against its original source. Where that’s still in progress, the entry says so.
Sport
Karina Smirnoff
Professional dancer · United States
“I’m an adult with ADHD.”
Source: Original interview to verify
Michael Phelps
Swimmer · United States
“When I was in sixth grade… diagnosed me with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.”
Source: Autobiography / interviews
Simone Biles
Gymnast · United States
“I have ADHD and I have taken medicine for it since I was a kid… Having ADHD… is nothing to be ashamed of.”
Source: Original X statement, to verify against original wording
Terry Bradshaw
American football player and broadcaster · United States
Source: Autobiography / interviews
Zach Wilson
American football player · United States
“I try hard, but it’s a struggle for me because of the attention deficit.”
Source: Deseret News interview
Film & TV
Barry Keoghan
Actor · Ireland
“My mind used to be like a traffic jam…”
Source: Esquire interview
Daniel Kwan
Film director · United States
“This movie is the reason why I got diagnosed.”
Source: Salon interview
Ed Helms
Actor and comedian · United States
“I read Driven to Distraction and just wept reading that book…”
Source: Soul Boom podcast
Greta Gerwig
Director, actor, screenwriter · United States
“Now, as an adult, I have ADHD — they diagnosed me.”
Source: The Observer / Guardian-family interview, to verify original
Howie Mandel
Comedian and TV presenter · Canada
“Back in the 1960s…”
Source: Original interview/book to verify
Justin Timberlake
Singer and actor · United States
“I have OCD mixed with ADD…”
Source: Original interview to verify
Reneé Rapp
Singer and actor · United States
“I didn’t know I had ADHD as a kid… now I do and I really love it.”
Source: Official Charts interview, to verify original
Tom Holland
Actor · United Kingdom
“I have ADHD and I’m dyslexic…”
Source: IGN interview, to verify original
Trevor Noah
Comedian and TV host · South Africa
“My depression is created by a severe level of ADHD…”
Source: Original interview to verify
Music
Adam Levine
Musician · United States
“ADHD isn’t a bad thing…”
Source: Campaign/interview to verify
Lola Young
Singer-songwriter · United Kingdom
Source: Original interview to locate
Nelly Furtado
Singer-songwriter · Canada
“I’ve had it my whole life…”
Source: People interview
will.i.am
Musician and producer · United States
“Music is my therapy.”
Source: Original interview to verify
Media
Lisa Ling
Journalist and TV presenter · United States
“My head is kind of spinning…”
Source: Original interview/documentary to verify
Ty Pennington
TV presenter and carpenter · United States
“Even if you’re on medication…”
Source: Original interview to verify
Business
David Neeleman
Entrepreneur · Brazil / United States
“If someone told me I could be normal… I’d take ADHD.”
Source: Original interview to verify
