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

Martha Plimpton says she received a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in her 50s and that the late diagnosis helped make sense of long-standing challenges.

Plimpton, 54, told reporters at the New York City premiere of her HBO miniseries Task that she was diagnosed with ADHD at about age 50, four years ago, and called the prognosis “a huge relief.” She described feeling “finally free” and said, “I’m glad to be sharing my ADHDness with the world.”

Plimpton drew attention on the red carpet to the diagnosis by wearing an ADHD diamond nameplate by Mad Fine Jewelry and a ring bearing the name of the antidepressant brand Wellbutrin, the star said. She posted a close-up of the look on Instagram and was styled in a tuxedo-inspired pantsuit for the event.

Clinicians say attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is characterized by an ongoing pattern of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that symptoms can persist into adulthood and affect multiple areas of a person’s life. Plimpton said many “little things fell into place” after her diagnosis.

Plimpton, an Emmy-winning actress who rose to prominence as a child in films such as The Goonies, is returning to television in Task, an HBO miniseries in which she plays an FBI supervisor opposite Mark Ruffalo. She described her character as a “special agent in charge” who has had to “deal with some bulls**t” on her way to a leadership role. The first episode of Task was scheduled to air on HBO and HBO Max on Sunday.

The actress has been publicly active on reproductive rights issues for years and used part of her appearance to reiterate those views. Plimpton said she does not lose hope and emphasized the availability of medication for self-managed abortion, saying 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.”

Medical professionals caution that ADHD can present differently in adults than in children, and diagnosis typically involves a clinical assessment of symptoms, their onset, and the degree to which they impair daily functioning. Treatment approaches may include medication, therapy, and strategies to manage attention and organization.

Plimpton’s comments reflect a broader trend of increased recognition of adult ADHD in recent years, as more people receive diagnoses later in life and share experiences publicly. She said she is “not ashamed” of the diagnosis and framed disclosure as part of her personal and public life as an actor and activist.