Daryl Hannah Reveals Autism Diagnosis That She's Tried to Hide Her Whole Life

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by Jill Baughman 2 hours ago

Here's some surprising news coming out of Hollywood today: Daryl Hannah revealed she was diagnosed with autism as a child. She also had struggles with "debilitating shyness" as a result of the disorder. Kind of unexpected, right?

Known for her iconic roles in Kill Bill: Volume 1 & 2, Splash, Blade Runner, and Wall Street, she said that she's been able to stay under the radar when it comes to her diagnosis and quietly manage her symptoms. Considering no one has any kind of privacy in Hollywood anymore, the fact she has kept this a secret so long is quite a feat.

Also once making headlines for dating John Kennedy Jr., she admitted to People magazine, "I’ve never been comfortable being the center of attention." You can see the interview in Friday's issue, when she also said, "It’s always freaked me out."

At times that she'd become so shy, she'd rock back and forth constantly. As a teenager, when she started to become famous, she had to hide her autism diagnosis in her professional life and couldn't do promotional appearances or talk shows. She said it was "not because I was above it, but because I was terrified."

Wow, what a brave thing to finally admit after all these years! Especially for someone who confesses that she is petrified of the spotlight. She went on to say, "I’m a grown up now. I’ve learned a couple of things that really would’ve made my life easier if I’d known them 20 years ago .... I wasted so much time scared, self-conscious, and insecure."

It's rather inspiring that woman who enjoyed so much success in Hollywood was once diagnosed with autism and couldn't even go around promoting her own work as a result, which is such a major factor when it comes to a movie's success nowadays. The 52-year-old beauty should also serve as an example that people who are diagnosed with autism or fighting chronic shyness can go on to have amazing careers and fulfilling lives. Good for her for coming out with her autism and opening up about how she was able to overcome her symptoms while still being able to let her guard down and perform in front of a camera and crew.

Now she's enjoying life with her boyfriend of three years, a pig they rescued name Molly, and a farm she's living in near LA. She's also an environmental activist who's been arrested a couple times during protests. Regardless, she's a true inspiration for anyone with autism or battling shyness, and we wish her even more continued success in both her private and public lives.

Are you surprised to hear that Daryl Hannah was diagnosed with autism?

Image via World Travel & Tourism Council/Flickr

Click "Like" for more about parenting kids on the spectrum. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jill Baughman

is the copy chief of The Stir and geeks out over all the nuances and weirdness of the English language.

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