Even autistic people who say autism is their ‘superpower’, or who may be described by others as ‘high functioning’ will face regular difficulties. Despite the challenges, it is still completely possible to live a happy and successful life as an autistic person – including being successful in work. This is true for autistic people who are different from most people in obvious ways, such as people who are non-speaking, or may have an unusual gait or noticeable stims. It is also true for people that you walk past in the street everyday who have no obvious outward signs of autism – and you would never know are autistic, unless you got to know them. There are many famous people who have successful careers and fulfilling lives, despite being autistic. And there is a growing number of autistic people who are becoming well known for their writing, speaking, advocacy and campaigning on autism – who help give us insight into how autistic people can tackle challenges, play to their strengths, and lead rewarding lives. Of course, you don’t have to be famous to be a happy, successful autistic person – but it can be encouraging to know about those people who are. Many famous autistic people help to bust myths – such as all autistic people are shy and retiring, or lack empathy, creativity and imagination.
Some autistic people from the UK, successful and /or famous in their fields
Where they have their own websites, we have shared links to more information about these people. Although we make every effort to ensure these links are accurate, up to date and relevant, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust cannot take responsibility for pages maintained by external providers.
Anne Hegerty
aka ‘The Governess’, TV personality, professional quizzer on TV show ‘The Chase’
Click here to read about Anne in relation to autism in this BBC article.
Ashley Storrie
Comedian and actor.
Click here to read an interview with Ashley about playing an autistic character in a BBC comedy.
Autistamatic - aka Quinn
Website host on a mission to learn and share more about the lives, challenges and successes of autistic people, to create a better understanding of each other.
Find Quinn’s website here: https://www.autistamatic.com/
Chris Packham
Naturalist, conservationist, TV presenter – including programmes in relation to autism, such as: Inside Our Autistic Minds; Chris Packham – Aspergers and Me, author of such books as Fingers in the Sparkle Jar – his memoir, including reflections on how autism has affected his thinking and behaviour
Watch Inside Our Autistic Minds here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0f2cxgn
Find Chris’s website here: https://www.chrispackham.co.uk/home
Christine McGuinness
TV presenter – including BBC Documentary Unmasking my Autism
Listen to Christine talk about autism here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001k31t
Dr Pooky Knightsmith
Autistic advocate, podcaster and author of books such as How to Support Your Autistic Child with Food, Eating and Mealtimes: A practical Guide for Parents, Carers and Other Supporting Adults
Click here to listen to Pooky interview autistic author Pete Wharmby on the topic ‘Is autism a blessing or a curse’. (Note: This video was not produced by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and may contain adverts.) Find Pooky’s website here: https://www.pookyknightsmith.com/
Elle McNichol
Author of A Kind of Spark A fictional book with neuro-diversity affirmative characters/storyline (for older children), which has been adapted to a drama series on CBBC
Watch A Kind of Spark here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p0f7q3rv/a-kind-of-spark
Fern Brady
Comedian and author of Strong Female Character – her autism related autobiography
Watch a video narrated by Fern, about autism and anxiety: https://www.autistica.org.uk/get-involved/anxiety-breakthroughs
Gary Numan
Watch this interview where Gary talks about his life in relation to autism: https://news.sky.com/video/gary-numan-on-the-positives-of-his-autism-11048011
Find Gary’s website here: https://garynuman.com/
Guy Martin
British motorcycle racer, heavy vehicle mechanic, TV presenter
Find Guy’s website here: https://www.guymartinracing.co.uk/
Holly Smale
Author of best-selling children’s book series, Geek Girl
Read and listen to Holly’s BBC interview about her autism diagnosis here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5qDF2bM3LQpvKhpdZP5Vspr/holly-smale-i-was-diagnosed-as-autistic-at-39
Joe Wells
Comedian
Hear Joe talk about his vision for an autistic future, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Jvx_umysik (Note: This video was not produced by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and may contain adverts.)
Find Joe’s website here: https://www.joewells.org.uk/
Katherine May
Podcaster and author – including her memoir about her midlife autism diagnosis The Electricity of Every Living Thing
Watch Katherine talk to other women about autism, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWprLO4u-aA (Note: This video was not produced by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and may contain adverts.)
Find Katherine’s website here: https://katherine-may.co.uk/
Melanie Sykes
Former TV presenter and author of Illuminated: Autism and All the Things I’ve Left Unsaid
Watch Melanie talk on BBC Woman’s Hour about her autism diagnosis, here:
Pete Wharmby
Autistic advocate, very active on social media and author of books such as ‘Untypical: How the World isn’t Built for Autistic People and What We Should All Do About it’ and ‘What I Want To Talk About – How Autistic Special Interests Shape a Life’
Watch Pete’s interview about autistic special interests here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOcx_5L3kbo (Note: This video was not produced by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and may contain adverts.)
Find Pete’s website here: https://petewharmby.com/
Purple Ella
Autistic advocate and vlogger.
Watch Ella Talk about autistic meltdowns here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7a3xm9fqz0 (Note: This video was not produced by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and may contain adverts.)
Find Ella’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/purplemumify
Rebecca Burgess
Illustrator, comic strip creator, author of books such as ‘Speak up!’ a coming of age graphic novel about an autistic girl
Find Rebecca’s website here: https://www.rebeccaburgess.co.uk/
Sara Gibbs
Comedy script writer, author of Drama Queen – her memoirs in relation to being autistic
See Sara’s short BBC animation here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/ideas/videos/theres-no-one-way-to-be-autistic/p0fqdsrd
Siena Castellon
Award winning author, advocate and campaigner – At age 16, she wrote The Spectrum Girls Survival Guide Since age 13 she has hosted a website to help support young neurodivergent people
Find Siena’s website here: https://www.qlmentoring.com/organisation-and-time-management
Sophie Baverstock
Winner of BBC Glow up make-up artist competition, 2022
Read about how autism has impacted on Sophie’s life and work here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/b558b2ac-cf17-4b4f-af06-083d368543b2
Stephen Wiltshire
Architectural artist
Find Stephen’s website here: https://www.stephenwiltshire.co.uk/
Susan Boyle
Singer
Watch Susan talk about herself in relation to autism, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFceNpw3APk (Note: This video was not produced by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and may contain adverts.)
Tzipporah Johnston
Artist/craftsperson, illustrator, writer/blogger.
See Tzipporah’s comics to illustrate the Double Empathy Problem, The Autistic Brain and Autistic Burnout here: https://www.tzipporahjohnston.com/comics
Find Tzipporah’s website here: https://www.tzipporahjohnston.com/
Some autistic people from around the world, successful and /or famous in their fields:
| Anthony Ianni – Basketball champion – USA |
| Clay Marzo – Surfer |
| Courtney Love – Musician |
| Dan Ackroyd – Actor |
| Dan Harman – Musician, aka Owl City |
| Dani Bowman – Animator, autistic advocate/speaker |
| Daryl Hannah – Actor |
| Dr Devon Price – Social Psychologist, blogger and author of books such as: ‘Unmasking Autism – The Power of Embracing our Hidden Neurodiversity’; ‘Laziness Does Not Exist’ |
| Dr Temple Grandin – Professor of animal science, autistic writer and advocate/speaker |
| Eminem – Musician |
| Greta Thunberg – Political activist |
| Hannah Gadsby – Comedian |
| Marty Balin – Musician: Jefferson Airplane |
| Naoki Higashida – Non-speaking author of ‘The Reason I Jump’ – which is now also a Netflix film. |
| Satoshi Tajiri – Inventor of Pokemon |
| Tony Del Blois – Musician – autistic and also blind |
| Wentworth Miller – Actor |
Some people thought to be autistic – but who have not been formally diagnosed
| Albert Einstein – Physicist |
| Andy Warhol – Artist |
| Bill Gates – Co-founder of Microsoft |
| Charles Schultz – Illustrator, writer |
| David Byrne – Musician: Talking Heads |
| Emily Dickinson – Poet |
| Michaelangelo – Artist |
| Mozart – Music composer |
| Nikola Tesla – Physicist and engineer |
| Sir Isaac Newton – Scientist |
| Stanley Kubrick – Film director |
| Tim Burton – Film director |
| William Butler Yeats – Writer |