Famous Dyslexics to Inspire You

People with dyslexia may feel like they will be so hampered by their condition that they may not do very well in life and that others will think less of them. This doesn't need to be a reality, and the proof is in the many famous dyslexics who have made it to the top of their game.

Some of the most intelligent scientists of the past have been dyslexic, Albert Einstein being the most notable. He was thought of as a genius and one of the greatest minds ever. Michael Faraday, chemist and physicist who discovered the chemical compound benzene and established the foundation for the electromagnetic field concept in physics didn't let dyslexia get in the way of his success. Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the first practical telephone and Thomas Edison, inventor of the electric lightbulb also achieved highly in life, despite being dyslexic.

Many famous actors are dyslexic too. Orlando Bloom, Fred Astaire, Marlon Brando, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Dustin Hoffman, Anthony Hopkins, Keira Knightley, Bob Hoskins, Oliver Reed, Sylvester Stallone, Liv Tyler and Billy Bob Thornton have all learned to succeed and they go on to inspire millions of people all over the world with the global reach of their films.

You may think that because dyslexics have difficulty with words that becoming an author is an unlikely career. However, Agatha Christie, Roald Dahl and John Irving found ways of learning that meant that working with words was a possibility.

Dyslexia can affect people from all walks of life, from rich to poor, including royalty. In the English royal family, the Duchess of York, her daughter Princess Beatrice, and Prince Harry have all been diagnosed.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, Apple founder Steve Jobs, entrepreneur Richard Branson and Theo Paphitis, Chief Executive of Ryman and Partners have all amassed great personal wealth through running their businesses. They are all dyslexic and considered among the best businessmen in the world. Dyslexia needn't stop you running a business, or even many businesses.

If something more practical is more your kind of thing, take inspiration from chefs Jamie Oliver, Rick Stein and Marco Pierre-White, olympians Duncan Goodhew and Sir Steven Redgrave, boxing legend Muhammad Ali or racing star Sir Jackie Stewart.

Famous artistic dyslexics include photographer David Bailey, ballet dancer Darcey Bussell, artists Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso and Andy Warholand, sculptors Antony Gormley and Auguste Rodin, and artist and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh who is responsible for the beautiful Glasgow School of Art building.

Having dyslexia is not the end of the world. Have faith in yourself and reach for success.

By Rebecca Twigg.

If you receive a dyslexia diagnosis, don't despair, there are dyslexia schools that can help you.