Martha Plimpton says late ADHD diagnosis at 50 was a 'huge relief'

Martha Plimpton said a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder she received at age 50 brought clarity and relief to longstanding challenges.

The 54-year-old actress disclosed the late diagnosis at the New York City premiere of her HBO miniseries Task, telling Page Six that she learned four years earlier that she had ADHD. "I'm actually a late diagnosis ADHD, like millions of others. It was actually a huge relief to be diagnosed," she said. "So many little things fell into place and made sense that hadn't made sense before." Plimpton added she was "not ashamed" and felt "finally free," and said she was "glad to be sharing my ADHDness with the world."

At the premiere Plimpton wore an ADHD diamond nameplate by Mad Fine Jewelry and a ring bearing the brand name Wellbutrin, the antidepressant bupropion. She posted a close-up of the red-carpet look to Instagram; her outfit was styled by Cristina Ehrlich and included a tuxedo-inspired pantsuit from Erika Cavallini.

Plimpton, an Emmy-winning actor who rose to prominence as a child in the 1985 film The Goonies, appears in Task as an FBI supervisor opposite Mark Ruffalo. She described her character as a woman who has worked hard to reach a position of authority and who "knows how to cut through the crap and take care of business." The first episode of Task premiered on HBO and HBO Max the week of the premiere.

The actress also used the appearance to reiterate her longtime advocacy on abortion rights. She said she believes public information about medication abortion is important, telling Page Six that it is "absolutely possible to avail oneself of the tools and mechanisms to self-manage one's own abortion," and that mifepristone and misoprostol "are still legal in this country, they're still accessible, and they're a perfectly safe and reliable way of terminating a pregnancy."

Per the National Institute of Mental Health, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that can impair functioning across multiple areas of life. While ADHD is often identified in childhood, many adults receive a diagnosis later in life; late diagnosis can prompt recognition of long-standing patterns of difficulty with attention and organization.

Clinicians diagnose ADHD based on a clinical evaluation of symptoms, impairment and history. Treatment approaches commonly include behavioral therapies and educational accommodations; medications such as stimulant and nonstimulant agents are also used. Bupropion, sold under the brand Wellbutrin, is approved as an antidepressant and smoking-cessation aid and is sometimes used off label by clinicians to address ADHD symptoms.

Mental health professionals say public figures speaking about late diagnosis can reduce stigma and encourage people to seek assessment when lifelong difficulties with attention or impulsivity affect daily functioning. Plimpton's comments follow a broader trend in which adults report receiving ADHD diagnoses later in life and describing relief at finding explanations for long-standing challenges.

Plimpton has been a public advocate on reproductive rights for years and has incorporated political and social commentary into interviews and appearances. Her disclosure about ADHD adds to a growing public conversation about adult diagnosis and treatment, while linking personal experience to broader discussions about access to health care and medication.