Jennifer Aniston opens up about 20 year struggle with dyslexia

Published January 23, 2015
Jennifer Aniston — Photo courtesy: InStyle
Jennifer Aniston — Photo courtesy: InStyle

From trouble in school to (once again) revisiting her break up with Brad Pitt, super star Jennifer Aniston's latest interview with the Hollywood Reporter has painted a candid, nuanced picture of the actress.

Aniston, who has enjoyed immense success in the industry, revealed she wasn't such a star in school.

“I thought I wasn't smart, I just couldn’t retain anything."

She continued struggling right through adulthood, before she was diagnosed with dyslexia during a routine eye test in her 20s.

"The only reason I knew that I had it was because I went to get a prescription for glasses. I had to wear these Buddy Holly glasses: one had a blue lens and one had a red lens. And I had to read a paragraph, and they gave me a quiz, gave me 10 questions based on what I'd just read, and I think I got three right."

"Then they put a computer on my eyes, showing where my eyes went when I read. My eyes would jump four words and go back two words, and I also had a little bit of a lazy eye, like a crossed eye, which they always have to correct in photos."

Once diagnosed, she says she felt relieved: "I felt like all of my childhood trauma-dies, tragedies, dramas were explained."

The Friends star, who is now happily engaged to writer/director/actor Justin Theroux, opened up about former beau, actor Brad Pitt, and said she is beyond over their divorce.

Jennifer pictured with Brad Pitt, before the two decided to part ways. - Photo courtesy: rantchic.com
Jennifer pictured with Brad Pitt, before the two decided to part ways. - Photo courtesy: rantchic.com

She clarifies, "We're not in daily communication but we wish nothing but wonderful things for each other. Nobody did anything wrong. It was just like, sometimes things happen. If the world only could just stop with the stupid, soap-opera stuff. There's no story."

Speaking about Theroux, the A-lister is all praise: "He's the easiest guy to hang around. He was so completely in his skin. It was the first time I remember being so comfortable [with a romantic interest], like with all my gay friends."

Aniston and Theroux smile on the red carpet. - Photo courtesy: abcnews.com
Aniston and Theroux smile on the red carpet. - Photo courtesy: abcnews.com

The Picture Perfect actress also touched on the painful topic about her relationship with her previously estranged mother Nancy Dow, admitting the two didn't speak to each other for years.

"She had a temper. I can't tolerate that. She was critical. She was very critical of me. Because she was a model, she was gorgeous, stunning. I wasn't. I never was. I honestly still don't think of myself in that sort of light, which is fine. She was also very unforgiving. She would hold grudges that I just found so petty."

A young Jennifer poses with mother Nancy Dow and father John Aniston. - Photo courtesy:imgarcade.com
A young Jennifer poses with mother Nancy Dow and father John Aniston. - Photo courtesy:imgarcade.com

Aniston herself claims to hold no grudges and is forgiving "probably to a fault. There are people in my life that are like, 'How do you even talk to that guy?' But what's the point of holding on to [anger]? That's so toxic. We're human beings. Human beings make mistakes."

Perhaps that's the reason things with her mother are "all fine" now.

The starlet has made a pivotal switch to serious drama with Cake, which is about a woman who suffers from chronic pain and becomes obsessed with the suicide of a woman in her support group. Cake debuted at the Toronto Film Festival to raving reviews for the actress, if not for the movie itself.

The world was shocked when she didn't get an Oscar nomination for her role. Aniston, however, remains gracious and says she doesn't feel snubbed at all.

"I know a lot of people were sorry. I feel I've gotten such wonderful love, I had almost more phone calls and flowers than I did for any other nomination in the past."

So what's next for Aniston?

"There's something bigger I'm interested in doing. It could be more work, it could be more creativity, or getting more philanthropic in the world. It can look like a baby. It can look like a foundation. I know I have a bigger purpose. It's a puzzle, and I haven't quite put the puzzle together. But something greater is calling out to me."

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