4 September 2012 Last updated at 15:38

Keira Knightley: dyslexia 'doesn't mean you're stupid'

Pirates of the Caribbean star, Keira Knightley, has spoken about how acting helped her to find a way around her dyslexia.

What is dyslexia?

• About one in 10 kids have dyslexia
• Dyslexia affects part of your brain and can make reading, writing and spelling really difficult.
• It can be worse for some than others - words can look blurry or jumbled up, or it can be hard to get dates in order.

Keira, who was diagnosed when she was 6, says that: "Dyslexia is like a wall... it's very difficult to see over it."

"I was really lucky because I had acting... it was like a carrot that was being dangled in front of me because I had to be able to read those lines in order to do it."

The actress admits that it is hard work, but says that: "It doesn't mean that you're stupid... it just means that you work in a different way."

Other celebrities who, like Keira, haven't let their dyslexia stop them from being successful include: Jamie Oliver, Olympian Steve Redgrave and even the man behind Mickey Mouse, Walt Disney.