5 Things You Didn't Know About Dave Bautista

#1 Bautista Struggles With Dyslexia, ADD, & Depression

Bautista revealed that he is missing out by not watching foreign films, but he is unable to always accurately read the captions due to his dyslexia. The WrestleMania 35 competitor has endured a lifelong struggle with learning disabilities including dyslexia and ADD.

To this day, Bautista still struggles with both,

"It is sometimes still a struggle. If I have to go to a cast reading, where you have to do a table reading sitting down, I usually apologize in advance because I get a little self conscious about it."

He told host Lilian Garcia that he struggled mightily in school and was always self-conscious about reading aloud,

"I was absolutely traumatized from school. I was self conscious. I felt stupid. I always felt I couldn't read good. If we ever had to read out loud in class, I either took off where I wasn't in class or I sat in the back hiding. Back then, there was no label for it. I'm sure it existed, but I didn't know what it was. I never heard people talk about that. I just thought I didn't read good."

His ADD became so bad on the set of Guardians of the Galaxy that he became entirely lost in it during a shoot. Co-star Zoe Saldana had to help him regain his focus and did so compassionately. According to Bautista, "She said, 'Are you OK?' I was like, 'Yeah, sorry.' Then we just went on with it."

The Guardians of the Galaxy star still struggles with ADD, dyslexia, and also depression, but does not take medication for his conditions. Instead, he has found a way to self medicate. Bautista gives credit to working out, the Florida sun, and Michael Jackson music for helping him cope with his challenges.

(Transcription Credit: Michael McClead, Sportskeeda)

Readers may listen to Lilian Garcia's interview with Dave Bautista in its entirety HERE.