Tom Holland says he has been invited several times to host Saturday Night Live, but he does not plan to take on the role anytime soon because of the challenges he faces with dyslexia. Speaking on the Good Hang podcast with Amy Poehler, the Spider-Man: Brand New Day star explained that he is “heavily dyslexic” and feels “so petrified” by the idea of reading lines from cue cards, especially if they change during rehearsal or live performance.
Holland said he can read normally, but reading aloud creates a mental block that can cause him to freeze. He described the SNL table read as the hardest part of the process, saying he tries to highlight and memorize his lines in advance so that he only has to skim the script instead of reading it word for word. He added that he loves the show and appreciates the chance to be asked, but his fear of the cue cards has kept him from accepting.
Poehler, who was a Saturday Night Live cast member from 2001 to 2008, pointed out that many people with different challenges have hosted the long-running NBC sketch series over its 51-season history. She encouraged Holland by suggesting that some previous hosts were not exactly in ideal condition while performing, implying he could handle it too.
Holland’s comments highlight both his admiration for Saturday Night Live and the personal difficulty he experiences with live script reading. Despite his enthusiasm for the show’s creative format and the fun of appearing on stage, he said the pressure of the read-through and cue cards remains a major obstacle.
The actor’s remarks offer a candid look at how dyslexia affects his work behind the scenes, even as his career continues to expand with major film projects. While he has not ruled out the possibility completely, Holland made clear that hosting SNL is not something he is ready to do.
