This week I’m back with another installment of celebrities with autism. I didn’t think I’d be back again so soon with another edition, but more and more keep disclosing that they are neurodivergent!
So who is joining the list?
Elyse Myers
Comedian, author and social media star Elyse Myers revealed that she was diagnosed with autism in 2024 at the age of 30 after reading comments from her followers suggesting she might be on the spectrum. She finally decided to pursue the diagnosis to speed up the assessment process for her children as you move further up the list if you have a diagnosed parent in the USA. While initially thinking that the diagnosis would change nothing, she found it has really helped her with self acceptance. You can see her discuss her autism diagnosis in this interview with Johnathan Van Ness (around the 27 minute mark):
Saltina shaker
Canadian drag queen Saltina Shaker (Jesse Lesniowski) was diagnosed with autism in 2025 at the age of 30 following the 6th season of Canada’s Drag Race. Similar to Elyse, Jessie started noticing autistic traits after reading audience comments about stimming and dissociation while participating in drag race.
You can see Saltina discuss the diagnosis in this interview here:
SZA
Singer songwriter SZA (Solána Imani Rowe) revealed on Instagram that she was diagnosed with high functioning autism/Asperger’s syndrome in 2026 at the age of 36, saying that it explained why she was “in every comment section” and why she is so vehemently opposed to the use of AI in music.
Tay Zonday
Youtuber Tay Zonday (known for the early viral video “Chocolate Rain“) was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome as a teenager at the age of 15. However, he didn’t fully realize the importance of his diagnosis until adulthood and how it impacts his mental health needs. He experienced a lot of sensory suffering after going viral in 2007 without understanding the cause, now wishing he had the same understanding of his condition back then.
Zonday created a song about his experiences of autism and ADHD in this video here:
Robbie Williams
English singer-songwriter (and former member of Take That) Robbie Williams recently revealed that he has been diagnosed with autism at 52. Previously diagnosed with ADHD, Williams has been open about his struggles with mental health and says that the autism diagnosis explains so much of his weird behaviour. He’s jokingly quipped that saying he’s autistic is his new “Get out of jail free card” (let’s face it, we’ve all played it at some point!).
Matt Lucas
Actor and comedian Matt Lucas spoke publicly for the first time about his autism diagnosis this week, revealing he enjoys the company and pace of theatre life, but also values his solitude, avoiding making social plans on his days off.
You can see him discussing his diagnosis on BBC Radio with fellow comedian Romesh Ranganathan here:
English actor Tom Hardy casually revealed his autism diagnosis at Comic Con in 2024 saying “I just sound like I’m on the spectrum. Because I am”. He has never discussed his experiences in detail, but has partnered with Tatami Fightwear on their AUTSiders collection where all the proceeds went to autism charities.
Kimberly Nixon
Welsh actress Kimberly Nixon was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD in 2025, describing it like a huge weight lifted off of her shoulders. She began experiencing symptoms of perinatal OCD in 2020, and during her recovery, started to add up the behaviours prompting her to seek a diagnosis.
You can see her discuss her experiences in the interview below:
I know it hasn’t been that long since my last post about autistic celebrities, but as our knowledge and visibility of autism has increased, more and more people are disclosing their autism diagnosis. So let’s take a look at some more autistic celebrities! 🙂
Lucy Bronze
Chelsea and England footballer Lucy Bronze was diagnosed with autism and ADHD in 2021. Despite struggles with eye contact, dyslexia and sleep, she credits her autism with her football success, seeing it as a superpower that allows her to hyperfocus on her craft. You can read more about her neurodivergent journey in this BBC article here https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c70el9el7x9o.
Charley Webb
Former Emmerdale actress Charley Webb received an autism and ADHD diagnosis in late 2025 at the age of 37 after a lifetime of struggling with noise sensitivity, overstimulation and being perceived as cold due to her preference for direct communication. She discusses her diagnosis journey in this podcast here:
Shaun Ryder
Happy Mondays singer Shaun Ryder was diagnosed with ADHD at age 59 and recently said he is on the autism spectrum in an interview on the Tommy Tiernan show in January of this year. Out of his 6 children, 5 of them have autism and or ADHD. You can see him discussing his neurodivergence on the show on the RTÉ Player here: https://www.rte.ie/player/series/the-tommy-tiernan-show/SI0000001918?epguid=IP10017201-10-0001
Dr. Alex George
Former Love Island star (if you consider that show worthy of “star” quality) and mental health campaigner Dr. Alex George revealed that he had been diagnosed with autism earlier this year after being previously diagnosed with ADHD and OCD. He has said that his mental health diagnoses have saved his life and his autism diagnosis in particular has brought him great comfort and clarity. You can see a clip of him discussing what your autistic friends wish you knew here:
Actress Kim Rhodes (who famously played the Sprouse twins’ mother in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) publicly disclosed her adult autism diagnosis in 2021, often using acting as a coping mechanism in her early career. Her daughter is also autistic and she has spoken openly about the challenges of parenting an autistic child as an autistic parent.
You can see a clip of her discussing the relief and freedom that came from her autism diagnosis as an adult here:
Vittorio Angelone
Northern Irish comedian Vittorio Angelone (who recently went viral for his comments to Penny Mordaunt on The Last Leg) was diagnosed with autism and ADHD in 2023 at the age of 27. He has been very open about his neurodivergent journey and experience of getting diagnosed, often talking about autism in his comedy. You can watch him discussing his diagnosis and experiences with anxiety in this podcast here:
Ivy Wolk
Actress, comedian and writer Ivy Wolk is known for her earnest and provocative social media presence where she is frequently misconstrued as a result of her autism diagnosis. She is very open about her diagnosis and struggles with mental health in her videos and interviews. You can listen to her discussing her experiences of autism and getting her diagnosis in this podcast here (around the 20 minute mark):
Adolf Hitler
Ok, now I know this one is hard to tell definitively as he died shortly after autism had first been described in 1944, but a 2025 analysis of Hitler’s DNA suggests a high genetic predisposition to autism, ADHD and schizophrenia, indicating that he could have been neurodivergent. I mean, his overreaction to getting rejected from art school is surely a sign of rejection sensitive dysphoria? 🤷🏻♀️ Ironically, Hitler’s Nazi movement wanted to cleanse Germany of individuals with intellectual disabilities sentencing many to death in concentration camps. Moreover, Hans Asperger one of the first men to describe autistic traits, was a public supporter of Nazism and eugenics, sending many intellectually disabled children in care to be euthanised. One wonders how things might have been different if Hitler had been diagnosed with autism…
As autism diagnoses are very popular at the moment, more and more celebrities are coming out of the autism closet. So this week I’d like to continue on from my previous 4 posts on the subject and let you know about some more autistic celebs:
Talia Mar
British singer and Twitch streamer Talia Mar was diagnosed with autism in her mid twenties after years of suspecting that she was on the spectrum. She began to connect the dots after hearing about the condition as a teenager, subsequently learning to mask her struggles with eye contact and discomfort around hugs as so many autistic women do. She has also been critical of media representations of autism as they tend to focus on the severe end of the spectrum.
You can see a short clip of her discussing her autism assessment here:
Emer Maguire
Northern Irish comic and fellow science communicator Emer Maguire was diagnosed with autism in her 20’s after years of jokes from her friends that she was on the spectrum (they playfully nicknamed her ‘Autismo’). She uses her platform to educate people about autism in fun ways, performing many comedic songs about life with autism.
You can see her giving a talk and singing about her experiences of autism here:
Gregg Wallace
Controversial TV chef and former MasterChef UK host Gregg Wallace recently announced on Instagram that he has been diagnosed with autism (his son was diagnosed in 2022). However, there has been a lot of backlash from the autistic community as his diagnosis is seemingly being used to excuse the allegations of inappropriate behaviour on MasterChef for which he is currently being investigated. Moreover, he is also suing the BBC for discrimination on the grounds of his disability… Let’s move on!
Andy Warhol
While we can’t officially diagnose artist Andy Warhol (as he died in 1987), but many people have retrospectively speculated that he likely had Asperger’s syndrome. I mean, who else but a neurodivergent would famously paint a can of soup?! You can read this article in The Guardian from 1999 where they explored how autism likely influenced his art https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/mar/14/vanessathorpe.theobserver
Hormona Lisa
American drag queen and 2025 Ru Paul’s Drag Race contestant Hormona Lisa was diagnosed with autism 7 years ago and opened up about her experiences on Reddit. Hormona said:
“I briefly mentioned this after my elimination, but I want to officially share that I have been diagnosed with autism. I received my diagnosis nearly 7 years ago, and it really helped explain a lot of my life experiences, like never quite fitting in, no matter how much I wanted to, or people not quite understanding me. It can be frustrating at times, especially when I feel like I’m expressing something one way, but others don’t see it the same way. Still, it’s a part of who I am, and I wouldn’t change it!”
Emily Bronte
Many people have remarked that Wuthering Heights author Emily Bronte may have been autistic. Biographers believe that her genius, tendency towards frustrated, angry outbursts and her discomfort in social situations may indicate that she had Asperger’s syndrome.
Cat Burns
British singer songwriter and recent Celebrity The Traitors contestant Cat Burns was diagnosed with autism in 2023 in her early twenties. Cat has said in interviews that she always felt different to everyone else but didn’t have a name for it, but gradually identified symptoms as she got older. She learned to mask by copying her older sister’s mannerisms and from watching how people were supposed to act in films.
You can see her discussing her autism in the clip below:
Professor Green
English rapper Professor Green (real name Stephen Manderson) was recently diagnosed with autism at the age of 40 after seeking an ADHD assessment. Like many of us, the diagnosis came as a relief, allowing him to better understand his past relationships and experiences when viewed through the lens of autism.
You can watch a quick clip of him talking about his late autism diagnosis in the reel below:
Julia Fox
Actress, model and media personality Julia Fox revealed she was autistic in the comments section of one of her videos. One of her fans commented on how fascinating her random knowledge is to which she replied that it was her autism.
You can see a clip of her discussing her experiences of co-morbid ADHD and OCD here:
As every year passes, I’m hearing about more and more celebrities that are on/suspected to be on the spectrum. So this week I’d like to continue on from my previous 3 posts on the subject and let you know about some more autistic celebs:
Bella Ramsey
The Last of Us non-binary actor Bella Ramsey has been in the news over the last few weeks disclosing their diagnosis after a crew member picked up on autistic traits. This person had a daughter with autism and assumed that Bella had also been diagnosed, sending them on their diagnosis journey, ultimately confirming what they had always wondered about.
Here’s a clip of Bella discussing how their diagnosis has made them a better actor:
Emma Langford
Irish singer-songwriter Emma Langford was diagnosed with autism at the age of 32. After getting involved in a fundraiser for autism charity As I Am during the pandemic, she started to do some research and noticed that she related to many of the experiences of autists. In retrospect after receiving her diagnosis, she noticed that all her songs were about the autistic experience as she used music to express the feelings that she couldn’t understand. The diagnosis has made her past clearer and the future brighter as she finally knows there is a place for her in the world, she just works a little differently.
Lee Ryan
Having recently watched the BBC documentary Boybands Forever, I did some ‘where are they now’ searching and discovered that Lee Ryan of Blue fame has been diagnosed with autism (Asperger’s syndrome) and ADHD in his forties. Of his diagnosis Lee wrote on Instagram:
‘I’ve struggled with various things since I was a child, but these things weren’t really known about back then or spoken about. What it means for me is that I have a high IQ but my brain works in a different way to others. For all the kids and adults out there who are going through the same thing, there’s nothing wrong with you. You might be very clever, highly creative – have highs and lows, but you might deal with social situations differently from others. You might react differently, particularly to sounds, sights, smells and even touch. People might think you’re being rude, difficult or chaotic. This is going to sound a bit weird but I’ve always hated the wind, the way it feels on my skin when it hits you. I’m particularly sensitive to touch, so when someone does that and I’m in a stressful situation then I might react quickly. There is so much I’m learning about myself and a lot is starting to make sense.‘
You can see a brief clip of him discussing his diagnosis below:
Sticking with British boybands, I again discovered post watching Boybands Forever that Abz Lov (Richard Abidin Breen) from the band Five was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome as an adult. Abz disclosed his diagnosis in 2013 after a stint on Celebrity Big Brother following encouragement from his CBB housemate Sophie Anderton. Of the diagnosis, Abz has said “It’s a personal thing but it makes it difficult for me in certain scenarios when people want the sparkly bright Abz all the time.” Abz struggled with addiction after Five first broke up and even went through a period where he paid people to be his friends 😢
Tylan Grant
Trans actor Tylan Grant (child of vocal coach Carrie Grant who I discussed in my previous post) was diagnosed with autism at the age of 7 and at age 16 made history becoming the first black actor to portray an autistic character in the British soap opera Hollyoaks.
You can see Tylan discuss his experience with autism in this interview:
Jess Kidd
London-Irish author Jess Kidd was diagnosed with autism in her late forties after one day her daughter asked “Mum, do you think you might be autistic?” She told her that she would look into it, likening the diagnosis process to the X-Factor where you keep getting through to the next round. She has embraced the diagnosis as a positive and advocates for awareness around the female experience of autism.
Josh Thomas
Australian comedian Josh Thomas was diagnosed with autism at 33 (and ADHD at 28), ironically after he had created the TV show ‘Everything’s Gonna Be Okay‘- a show that was celebrated for having a realistic autistic lead character played by Kayla Cromer who is herself on the spectrum. The diagnosis confirmed a nagging suspicion he had always had and described it as a positive experience that has helped him to better understand himself and for the people around him to do the same.
You can see an interview with him discussing his diagnosis in the video here:
Jacksepticeye
Irish Youtuber Sean McLoughlin (better known by his handle Jackscepticeye) was diagnosed with autism in 2024 having been previously diagnosed with ADHD. In the midst of his ADHD journey after medication didn’t work, he started to read about the overlap with autism and the penny started to drop, so he sought a diagnosis to satisfy his curiosity.
You can see him chatting about his diagnosis in the video below on his channel:
Tom Stoltman
The world’s strongest man Tom Stoltman was diagnosed with autism at the age of 8. He often felt very isolated as a young man and struggled in school with bullies and teachers who told him he wouldn’t go anywhere in this life. For him, autism initially felt like a burden often wondering why him? His attitude has since drastically changed, now viewing it as a superpower. Going to the gym completely changed his perspective, allowing him to see how useful his autistic traits like hyperfocus can be in his training regimen.
You can see him discuss his experience of autism in the video below:
Neil Gaiman
Controversial English writer Neil Gaiman has lowkey discussed that he was diagnosed with autism in posts on Twitter and Tumblr describing his experience as “From my point of view, it’s both my super powers and it’s my kryptonite. Your mileage (as they say sensibly) may vary.” However, he is currently embroiled in legal proceedings regarding multiple sexual assaults, and some people are trying to use autism to excuse his behaviour…. Let’s move on!
Damien Haas
Actor and writer Damian Haas, best known for his work with Smosh Games on YouTube, has openly discussed being diagnosed with autism, ADHD and OCD. He has described his diagnosis as a characteristic part of who he is, emphasizing that it is not something to be fixed, it’s just the deck of card’s he’s dealing with.
You can see him discussing his AuDHD here:
Bobby Fischer
Chess prodigy and grandmaster Bobby Fischer has long been in the subject of debate as to whether or not he was on the spectrum. Psychologist Rueben Fine has said “Some of Bobby’s behavior is so strange, unpredictable, odd and bizarre that even his most ardent apologists have had a hard time explaining what makes him tick“. However, he could also have been schizophrenic or had paranoid personality disorder which can be co-morbidities with autism, so take from that what you will.
The Founding Fathers
While we cannot officially diagnose them, historical records about the Founding Fathers of America suggest that they may have all been neurodivergent in some way or another showing signs of ADHD and autism. Just have a quick look at this summary short and you’ll see what I mean:
Taylor Swift?
Okay, now this one maaaaay be a stretch, but some psychologists have speculated that based on her public demeanor, dating history, food habits, stimming behaviours and her music that Taylor Swift is likely autistic. A lot of fans have been debating whether or not this could be true, especially as her music resonates quite strongly with some autists. Then again most people resonate with her music so who knows 🤷♀️
