Octavia Spencer Opens Up About Having Dyslexia: ‘It Just Means That Your Brain Functions Differently’
Octavia Spencer just opened up to WENN about having a learning disability. “I was a dyslexic child and am a dyslexic adult,” revealed the Oscar winner, noting that growing up she felt having “dyslexia gave [her] an edge.”
“I just remember thinking differently,” she continued. “I could solve puzzles quicker than the average child. … My deductive reasoning was very important.” When Spencer’s teachers noticed something special about her, they supported her skills. “I was actually tested for the gifted program in my school because I was more auditorily inclined.”
Spencer, 46, also thanked her teachers for their support: “I had great teachers, and I think teachers should be paid as much as athletes.” The actress defended dyslexia from criticism. “That doesn’t really mean you’re not intelligent — it just means that your brain functions differently.”
Orlando Bloom concurs. The Pirates of the Caribbean star is also dyslexic and has said, “With dyslexia comes a very great gift … your mind can think creatively.” Same goes for Whoopi Goldberg, whose mom told her, “You’re not slow; you’re just different.”
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