Anthony Hopkins dismisses wife’s suggestion he’s autistic, calls modern diagnoses ‘all nonsense’

Anthony Hopkins rejects wife’s claim he may have autism, calling ADHD, OCD and autism ‘rubbish’ in new interview

Anthony Hopkins has sparked online debate after rejecting the idea that he may be on the autism spectrum, dismissing modern mental health diagnoses as “rubbish” and “fashionable”. In a candid interview with The Sunday Times published on November 1, the Oscar-winning actor revealed that his wife, Stella Arroyave, once suggested he could have autism, a suggestion he brushed off entirely.

The 87-year-old star, promoting his forthcoming memoir We Did OK, Kid, said he didn’t believe in labels or self-diagnosis. “I’m obsessed with numbers. I’m obsessed with detail. I like everything in order. And memorising,” he said. “Stella looked it up and said, ‘You must be Asperger’s.’ I didn’t know what the hell she was talking about. I don’t even believe it.”

Hopkins went further, saying, “It’s all rubbish. ADHD, OCD, Asperger’s, blah, blah, blah. Oh God, it’s called living.” He described such diagnoses as part of a cultural trend, adding, “All these labels. I mean, who cares? But now it’s fashion.”

The comments have drawn swift reaction online, with many fans expressing disappointment. Neurodivergent users and advocates on social media accused the actor of being dismissive toward genuine mental health struggles. One user wrote, “It’s easy to call it nonsense when you’ve never needed understanding or support for it.” Others, however, defended Hopkins’ remarks as a generational perspective, noting his age and history of frank opinions.

Hopkins, who has spoken publicly about his battle with alcoholism, maintained that people are too eager to categorise ordinary human experiences. “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,” he told The Sunday Times.

His memoir We Did OK, Kid, which explores his long career and personal reflections, will be published on November 4. While the actor’s comments have divided audiences, they have certainly reignited conversation around the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding neurodiversity in the public eye.