Lindsay Wagner became a household name in the 1970s due to her role as the main character of the hit TV show The Bionic Woman. Her interest in acting developed as a child, when she could express and cope with her emotions in acting classes—trying emotions in both her family and academic life.

Wagner’s dyslexia went undiagnosed all through her academic years. Her teachers and parents didn’t really know about dyslexia while she was in school, and Wagner constantly struggled with being told she was bright and being told she needed to work harder. Reading was hard for her, and no matter how hard she tried Wagner never seemed to understand words on a page. When she realized her suffering grades would not result in a career in psychology, her early interest, she turned her attention to her outlet for emotions—acting. She abandoned the discouraging road of academics and instead focused her abilities on communicating with people through emotions.

As a young adult, Wagner signed a contract with Universal Studios and was soon given the dream role of the Bionic Woman. The show’s three series earned her an Emmy and the luxury of a successful acting career in the middle of the 1970s. Instead of continuing to suffer in the academic world where her dyslexia caused her grades to be a poor reflection of her intelligence, Wagner nurtured her interest in acting and a desire to communicate with people into a successful career.