Simon Pegg has revealed that he has been diagnosed with ADHD, saying the news "confirmed a lot of stuff that I’d been wrestling with" for years.
The actor and writer, known for comedy films including Hot Fuzz, Shaun Of The Dead and The World’s End, as well as TV series such as Doctor Who and Spaced, opened up about the neurodevelopmental condition while appearing on the podcast I’m ADHD! No You’re Not.
Why he sought a diagnosis
Speaking on the podcast on Thursday (October 8), Pegg explained that he pursued a diagnosis because he "just wanted to know". He said: "There was a lot of build-up and suspicion, and it just took a while actually to get to get there. It confirmed a lot of stuff that I’d been wrestling with, and that I’d been attributing to just a character fault."
The 56-year-old, who has previously spoken publicly about his mental health, including clinical depression and struggling to control his drinking, said he had thought his drinking may have "caused" the diagnosis.
Childhood behaviour in perspective
He added: "I felt like it was something that had come on in later life because I wasn’t a naughty child. I’ve had bouts of depression in my adult life since 18 and I thought maybe it had come on with that. Maybe over the years with therapy and medication – whatever – I’ve been treating the symptoms and not the cause of why I feel that way."
Reflecting on how his family has reacted, Pegg said his wife is "dealing with it as if I’d been diagnosed ages ago", adding: "It’s just who I am, and it’s just things that I do. She makes allowances for forgetfulness and lack of concentration."
He also said learning about the diagnosis put his childhood behaviour into perspective: "I did feel different in a way I might not be able to put my finger on. Maybe everybody feels that way."
"I just assumed ADHD kids were kind of chaotic and difficult and didn’t pay attention in school," he added. "But there were other things that I did do as a kid – fidget or whatever – that made me think: Oh no, maybe I’ve had this longer than I thought."
I’m ADHD! No You’re Not is available on all podcast platforms at 6am every Thursday.
