Simon Pegg Reveals ADHD Diagnosis

Actor Simon Pegg has revealed that he has been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The 56-year-old star shared on the podcast "I'm ADHD! No You're Not" that he sought a diagnosis because he "just wanted to know."

Pegg stated that the diagnosis confirmed "a lot of stuff I'd been wrestling with and that I'd been attributing to just character fault." He is known for his roles in "Hot Fuzz," "Shaun Of The Dead," "Star Trek," and the "Mission: Impossible" film series.

While Pegg has been open about his mental health, including periods of depression, he initially felt his ADHD might have emerged later in life. "I felt like it was something that had come on in later life because I wasn't a naughty child," he explained. He had assumed that children with ADHD were typically chaotic and struggled with attention in school.

However, Pegg recalled childhood behaviors like fidgeting that now suggest he may have had the condition for longer than he initially thought. "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," he said.

His wife has been understanding of the diagnosis, making allowances for forgetfulness and lack of concentration, Pegg noted. He described her reaction as treating it as if he had been diagnosed ages ago, emphasizing, "It's just who I am, and it's just things that I do."

Pegg also discussed his increasing openness about mental health. He mentioned that he was guarded about personal matters early in his career, but began speaking out more around 2018 after working on a film about schizophrenia. When mental health became a topic in press interviews, he first mentioned his struggles with depression and drinking. He was profoundly moved by the positive responses he received from people who thanked him for sharing his experiences.