Research abstract

ACTING WITH DYSLEXIA

Dyslexia should never stop someone from seeking their dreams. Acting is hard, though, and having to learn the lines by reading puts that much more on the shoulders of the actor. However, everyone finds their own way of learning, having dyslexia does not change that. By Sarah for Fernette

Laura Lurns Last updated February 19, 2017 · 1 min read

Why do so many actors and actresses have dyslexia? Could it be that dyslexic people have talents and strengths that led themselves well to a career in acting? Many parents report that their dyslexic children show off their acting talents at very early ages through imitating, gesturing, and exuding their unique personalities.

Perhaps for some, it’s their innate ability to feel empathy for others and visualize personal interactions cinematically. According to drama school reports, an estimated 30% of their acting students have dyslexia. Dyslexic actors and actresses should have an advantage over their non-dyslexic peers in that they can visualize events they read in a written script with greater ease. Yet, memorizing exact dialog or doing cold reading auditions could be very challenging to someone with dyslexia. Often, dyslexic actors develop systems for memorizing lines using recordings and visualization techniques.

Key takeaways

Actors can embody a character that does not have dyslexia which assists with self-esteem.
Memorizing words is a way that those with dyslexia learn and acting requires one hundred percent accuracy.
Some actors record themselves listening to lines and replay it repeatedly to assist in the memorization since it is easier than repeatedly reading.

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Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert Writes about the learning brain for parents who want plain answers. Every article is grounded in current neuroscience and classroom practice.

Key takeaways

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