Jennifer Aniston Reveals 20-Year Battle With Dyslexia

ABC/Randy Holmes(NEW YORK) — Jennifer Aniston says she’s “very happy” and that “life is quite extraordinary,” but that she’s gone through hardships just like everyone else.

The former Friends star, 45, opened up to The Hollywood Reporter like never before — talking about her relationship with her mother, her struggles with dyslexia and her high-profile divorce from Brad Pitt.

The Cake actress, who is now happily engaged to writer/director/actor Justin Theroux, 43, said she is beyond over her divorce that happened a decade ago.

“We’re not in daily communication,” she told the magazine about Pitt. “But we wish nothing but wonderful things for each other. Nobody did anything wrong. You know what I mean? It was just like, sometimes things [happen]. If the world only could just stop with the stupid, soap-opera bulls—. There’s no story.”

She opened up about letting go, adding, “I’m a control freak. I like to be in charge of everything. My life was so out of control growing up, it’s very important today for it to be in control.”

Aniston revealed that she doesn’t read all that often because of dyslexia, which hurt her self-esteem during some of her formative years. She found out she had the learning disability in her 20’s.

“The only reason I knew [that I had it] was because I went to get a prescription for glasses,” she said. “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.”

Before being diagnosed, “I thought I wasn’t smart. I just couldn’t retain anything.”

Finally, Aniston spoke about her mother Nancy Dow, admitting for years the two didn’t speak.

“She had a temper. I can’t tolerate that,” she said. “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.”

Now, she says, “We’re all fine.”

As for failing to get an Oscar nod for her role in Cake, Aniston is 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].”

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