Celebs Who Have Opened Up About Their Autism Diagnoses

Autism, a type of neurodivergence, is a stretching umbrella that captures under it a series of different conditions and syndromes. Considered a spectrum, there are often frequent misunderstandings with the diagnosis given a perpetuated idea that to be autistic is to behave in one singular fashion. However, as individuals with autism and research have proven, there is no one way that neurodivergence surfaces. Given the broad spectrum, the autism community is wide, diverse, and complex. Finding representation for such a community can be hard, and has led to speculation surrounding certain celebrities' neurodivergence, which has definitely caused its own stir. But these famous individuals are taking a stand.  

Some of the most famous names in the 21st century have worked to strengthen the connection between status and autism. They've spoken openly about their diagnoses — in some cases to tackle societal norms, in others to become a voice for the seemingly voiceless in the Hollywood world. In doing so, these stars have paved a way for others like themselves and directed a conversation toward autism that isn't riddled with ridicule but targeted at learning, understanding, and expression.

Anthony Hopkins received his diagnosis late in his life thanks to his wife, Stella Arroyave. After Arroyave noted his highly structured habits — particularly, his obsession with detail, numbers, order, and a keenness for memorization, which the actor shared with The Sunday Times — she suggested that the Academy Award winner may have Asperger's. With his wife's vigilance in mind, Hopkins was diagnosed in his 70s with Asperger's. 

Formally called Asperger's Syndrome, the neurodivergence was added under the umbrella of the Autism Spectrum in 2013. Individuals diagnosed with the syndrome have difficulty with social interactions, opt toward memorizing habits, show an obsession with niche subjects, and rely on repetitive behaviors. His late diagnosis comes way out of the typical identification time of the syndrome, which is usually between 5 and 9 years old. 

Curiously, following his diagnosis, Hopkins had little to say about being a part of the neurodivergent community. In fact, the seeming modernity of being diagnosed at all appears to have rubbed the older actor the wrong way. As he told The Sunday Times, "Oh God, it's called living. It's just being a human being, full of tangled webs and mysteries and stuff that's in us. Full of warts and grime and craziness, it's the human condition."

At a young age, climate activist Greta Thunberg was diagnosed with autism, a tricky and mostly underdiagnosed condition for women. She proudly shared her diagnosis via Instagram in 2016. Telling her followers that she had been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, Thunberg defined her neurodivergence as a type of superpower, Her Instagram caption further revealed that many haters had used her diagnosis as a means to target her and label her as someone different, but in the face of the hatred, Thunberg found solace. 

Five years later, an 18-year-old Thunberg told Teen Vogue that as a girl she had felt different as she was getting older — that this uniqueness would leave a lasting and heavy weight on her. This feeling is something that she echoed in her Instagram post years prior, in which she revealed that because of her Asperger's, she experienced difficulties in school and with making friends, as well as an isolation that led to her developing an eating disorder. 

Thunberg recalled a deeply seated desire to not be like she had been, feeling lost to an unknown condition. But following her diagnosis, the activist discovered comfort, an explanation for her symptoms, and a reason behind her habits: "The diagnosis was almost only positive for me. It helped me get the support I needed and made me understand why I was like this." 

Bella Ramsey has grown up before audiences' eyes as a powerhouse actor in both "Game of Thrones" and "The Last of Us." As they've shared their identity and career with fans all over the globe, Ramsey hinted at a diagnosis that further shaped their self. Initially referring to themselves as neurodivergent, the actor admitted that later reflection pushed them to go public with their diagnosis. As they definitively shared in an interview with BBC News, "Yeah, I'm autistic." 

Their choice to make their diagnosis known came with a desire to be a voice for individuals just like themself. As the actor said in their interview with the British news network, "It's something that I'm really glad about just for myself, it allows me to be a bit more free. And also yes, hopefully inspiring to people to see like you can be in industries like this and openly say that you're autistic."

Ramsey was diagnosed with autism while filming their HBO show "The Last of Us." Since being diagnosed, the actor has admitted to giving themself more grace in times when they otherwise wouldn't, sharing how their neurodivergence has changed the way they approach discomfort and challenges on set. The actor noted that certain circumstances — longer hours, specific costumes, etc. — brought out their autistic traits, as they noted to The Hollywood Reporter following the filming of "The Last of Us." Despite the challenge, Ramsey found ways to cope, like making jokes or raising awareness on set. 

Dan Aykroyd, an SNL alum known for his booming movie career following his exit from the sketch comedy series, became an outspoken icon for autism when he was diagnosed in the late 1980s. Aykroyd was clued in on his own neurodivergence when a reflection on his own obsessive habits and deeply curious behaviors led to a mindful step toward diagnosis. 

As a child, the actor was diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome, something he was able to manage and use as a creative resource. His ability to channel his diagnosis into his art was something the actor replicated with his later diagnosis of Asperger's. In fact, his iconic film "Ghostbusters" stemmed from Aykroyd's diagnosis. The SNL alum had developed an obsession with ghosts and police. As he began to research the niche, he discovered Hans Holzer, a man Aykroyd described as "the greatest ghost hunter ever." Thus, the concept behind "Ghostbusters" was created. 

The story of Aykroyd's diagnosis has since become a little complicated. In 2013, Aykroyd told The Daily Mail that he had Asperger's Syndrome, saying, "It wasn't diagnosed until the early Eighties when my wife persuaded me to see a doctor." For years, the actor was questioned on his diagnosis, talking ad nauseum about his neurodivergence; however, in a 2023 podcast interview, the SNL alum told Adam Carolla that his neurodivergence was a self-diagnosis, a response to curiosity that drove him to research. 

In May 2021, Elon Musk made his SNL debut with a groundbreaking announcement: he has autism. "I'm actually making history tonight as the first person with Asperger's to host SNL," the Tesla CEO told the crowd of live audience members during his opening monologue. He followed the news with a quick quip that he may just be the only star to admit to the diagnosis. Since making his diagnosis public, Musk has avidly discussed the ups and downs of Asperger's. 

In a 2022 TED Talk interview, Musk went into how his diagnosis hindered his experiences growing up. "Others could intuitively understand what was meant by something. I would take something very literally as if the words that were spoken were exactly what they meant. But that turned out to be wrong." Though he hasn't been shy about the more difficult side effects of his diagnosis, the SpaceX owner was also quick to note the upsides of his neurodivergence. 

Musk developed a love for reading, which he claimed helped him develop a stronger understanding of social cues. Musk noted developing hyper fixations, including an obsession with truth. It was this obsession that pushed the business owner to study physics, learn computer programming, and ultimately explore his career within the world of technology and automotive development.