Simon Pegg Reveals ADHD Diagnosis: ‘It’s Just Who I Am’

Actor and writer Simon Pegg has revealed that he has been diagnosed with ADHD, saying the diagnosis has helped explain difficulties he had previously viewed as personal character flaws.

The 56-year-old Shaun of the Dead and Mission: Impossible star said there had been a long period of suspicion before he eventually sought a formal assessment.

Speaking on the podcast I'm ADHD! No You're Not, Pegg said he pursued a diagnosis because he simply wanted to understand himself better.

He said the diagnosis had “confirmed a lot of stuff that I'd been wrestling with.”

‘I thought it was just character fault’

Pegg said he had previously attributed some of the difficulties he experienced to aspects of his personality.

He explained that he had experienced periods of depression since he was 18 and had initially wondered whether his difficulties had developed later in life.

He also discussed his history of struggling to control his drinking and said he had wondered whether his mental health experiences might have contributed to what he was experiencing.

The ADHD diagnosis gave him a different perspective.

Pegg said he had potentially spent years treating symptoms without understanding what might have been behind them.

Looking back at childhood

The actor said he had not initially associated himself with common perceptions of ADHD.

He recalled believing that children with ADHD were typically chaotic, difficult or unable to pay attention at school.

However, looking back at his own childhood, he remembered behaviours such as fidgeting and other difficulties with concentration.

Those memories contributed to his decision to seek an assessment.

Pegg said he had felt different without necessarily being able to explain exactly why.

‘It’s just who I am’

Pegg also spoke about the support he has received from his wife following the diagnosis.

He said she had responded to the diagnosis as though he had known about the condition for years and had made allowances for things such as forgetfulness and difficulties concentrating.

Pegg described the diagnosis as part of understanding who he is rather than something that defines him.

“It's just who I am,” he said.

ADHD and adult diagnosis

ADHD is associated with symptoms including inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, although people can experience the condition in different ways.

A diagnosis is based on a wider assessment of symptoms and their impact on a person's daily life rather than simply experiencing occasional difficulties with concentration or organisation.

Pegg's experience also highlights the growing number of adults seeking assessment for ADHD.

The NHS estimates that around 2.5 million people in England have ADHD, including people who have not received a formal diagnosis.

Growing demand for assessments

Demand for ADHD and autism assessments has increased significantly in recent years.

NHS waiting lists for assessments have reached record levels in England, with some services facing such high demand that they have closed waiting lists to new referrals.

Research from University College London has previously found a substantial increase in the number of adults receiving ADHD diagnoses in the UK.

At the same time, research published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe has suggested that ADHD may still be underdiagnosed among adults.

One study found that around 1.2% of adults in England had an ADHD diagnosis, while international estimates suggest ADHD affects around 3% to 5% of people.

The researchers said the difference could indicate that some adults, particularly older people, have not been diagnosed.

A wider conversation about ADHD

Pegg is among a growing number of public figures who have spoken openly about receiving an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood.

His comments add to a wider conversation about how ADHD can present beyond childhood and how some people may reach adulthood without recognising that their experiences could be connected to the condition.

For Pegg, the diagnosis appears to have provided an explanation for experiences he had struggled to understand for years.

Rather than viewing the diagnosis simply as a label, he described it as another part of understanding himself.

“It's just who I am.”