Anthony Hopkins says ADHD, OCD and Asperger’s are ‘nonsense’

'It's called living'

The actor previously said that he believes he could potentially be neurodivergent and has also been very vocal about his struggles with alcoholism.

Hopkins told the Sunday Times: "Well, I guess I'm cynical because it's all nonsense, it's all rubbish; ADHD OCD, Asperger's, blah, blah, blah.

"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. All these labels, I mean, who cares? But now it's fashion."

Whether you agree or not, the Oscar winning actor runs the risk of offending many people who suffer those conditions.

Henry Shelford, CEO and co-founder of ADHD UK told the Mirror: "It is easy for those that have found their perfect spot, where their individuality and difference helps them succeed, to forget how hard it is for those that haven't.

"A diagnosis of ADHD or Autism isn't like a coat bought off a fast-fashion rack. Assessments require medical specialists and NHS waits are usually measured in years or even decades.

"We know people with ADHD can have amazing success. But we also how hard having ADHD is. In particular from the statistics on suicide that show 1 in 4 women with ADHD and 1 in 10 men with ADHD will at some point try to take their own life.

"Overall life expectancy is 9 years lower for a woman with ADHD and 7 years lower for a man with ADHD. Having ADHD can be extraordinarily hard and comments like this makes it harder for those struggling the most."

Anthony revealed that his third wife Stella Arroyave once told him she thought he had Asperger's Syndrome.

Asperger's is a now-defunct term, instead the condition is part of the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) after it was found to be hard to differentiate from ASD, as well as the discovery of Hans Asperger's, whom the condition was named after, ties to the Nazi regime, per The Mirror.

Anthony said he had been encouraged to seek psychiatric help for his anger issues, describing how he often feels like he is 'putting on a mask every morning'. Nonetheless, he has continued to dismiss the idea of neurodiversity.

Last December, Anthony took to Instagram to celebrate his 49th year sober, admitting he had 'realised he was in big trouble'.

He said: "On that fatal day, I realised I needed help. So I got it. I phoned up a group of people like me, alcoholics. That was it.

The Hannibal actor said that the last 49 years had been 'fun' as he encouraged those who are struggling to seek help.

"Having fun is wonderful, having a drink is fine, but if you are having a problem with the booze, there is help," he said.

"It’s not a terrible deal, it’s a condition. If you’re allergic to alcohol, get some help.

"There’s plenty of help around."

In the Instagram post, the actor also said he quickly learned that he was 'not unique' and thousands of people struggle when it comes to alcohol.

"I’ve had a wonderful life.

"They still employ me, they still give me jobs. I’m celebrating my life, my exceptionally long life."