Nice article about Daryl Hannah

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Daryl Hannah is more than a Hollywood icon; she’s a beacon of resilience, environmental advocacy, and autism awareness. Known for her standout roles in films like Splash, Blade Runner, and Kill Bill, Hannah’s career has been marked by her quiet but fierce determination to overcome personal challenges and influence societal change.

Early Life and Autism Diagnosis
Born on December 3, 1960, in Chicago, Illinois, Daryl Hannah was drawn to the magic of movies from a young age. Her fascination with the screen was part of her escape from the challenges of autism, a diagnosis she received in childhood when understanding and support for the condition were minimal. This diagnosis came with its own set of challenges, particularly in an industry that prizes extroversion and constant social interaction.

Autism affected Hannah in ways that made traditional routes to Hollywood stardom daunting. She dealt with sensory sensitivities and social communication obstacles, traits often associated with autism spectrum disorders. Her intense shyness and difficulties with eye contact were misunderstood in an environment where bold personalities usually dominate.

Breakthrough in Film
Despite these challenges, Hannah’s passion for acting could not be quelled. Her major breakthrough came with the 1984 film Splash where she played the enchanting mermaid Madison. The film’s success made her a household name and opened up numerous doors in the film industry. Her role in Blade Runner as Pris, a genetically engineered being, further showcased her range and cemented her place in Hollywood.

A Voice for Environmental Activism
Parallel to her acting career, Daryl Hannah nurtured a profound connection with the environment. Her activism is not just a part of her public persona but a lifestyle. Hannah lived in a solar-powered home, drove a car fueled by biodiesel, and is a vegan, advocating for sustainable living through personal choices and public activism.

Her environmental efforts are punctuated by her participation in high-profile protests and initiatives against projects like the Keystone XL pipeline, where she was arrested during peaceful demonstrations

Advocating for Autism Awareness
In recent years, Daryl Hannah has continued to select film roles that resonate with her values and beliefs. In 2018, she took on the role of director for the Netflix film [i]Paradox, a project that blends her love for the arts with her musical and environmental interests.

Her personal life also reflects her advocacy and environmental commitments. In 2018, she married musician Neil Young, who shares her passion for environmental issues. Together, they have continued to use their platforms to advocate for environmental causes, demonstrating their commitment to the planet through both personal initiatives and public activism.

Lasting Impact and Legacy
Daryl Hannah’s journey through Hollywood and beyond is a testament to the power of resilience and the impact of using one’s voice for greater causes. Her advocacy work, particularly in environmental issues and autism awareness, has made her a respected figure not only in entertainment but also in activist circles.

As she continues to engage in activism and select film roles that align with her passions, Hannah remains a symbol of how challenges can be transformed into platforms for education and change. Her legacy in film is intertwined with her contributions to social and environmental causes, making her story one of enduring influence and inspiration.

Final Thoughts
Daryl Hannah’s narrative is a compelling blend of personal triumph and public advocacy. It underscores the potential of celebrity beyond entertainment, highlighting how personal challenges can lead to profound public impact. Her commitment to environmental sustainability and autism awareness continues to inspire and influence, making her a true icon both on and off the screen.

I had been recently diagnosed when I found out she was autistic so the idea that celebrities can be autistic also and come out was new to me. For those who were not around during the 1980s she was not just any celebrity but one of the biggest movie stars on the planet.

I was little in the 80s, and Splash was my favorite movie for the longest time. I introduced my kids to the movie several years ago, and after watching it, they wanted me to look up Daryl Hannah. We found out she was autistic -- and not "just a little" autistic, but pretty severely affected as a little girl, so much so that her mom was advised to institutionalize her as soon as possible, but her mom refused -- and my kids (especially my oldest daughter) were all excited that someone like them was making her way in the world.

Her story is very inspiring.

You had to be very obvious to be diagnosed during the 1960s as autism diagnosis was rare. Plus Autism was thought to be a boys “disease”.

At that time the conventional wisdom was that autism was caused by “refrigerator mothers”, parents so cold and unloving that the children developed autism as a defense mechanism. Mothers were advised to institutionalize their children, remove any memories of them from the home and see a psychiatrist to find out why they are such a monster that they caused their children to become a robot in a human body.

Hannah’s mom(it was almost always mothers that made child rearing decisions) was unusual for parents of her generation because she did not listen to authority.

Another girl who was diagnosed just a few years later and went on to become a celebrity is Courtney Love.

This interview from 1989 shows Hannah becoming increasingly uncomfortable and stimmy as the interview went along.

Huh. I had no idea!

Is Courtney Love really autistic? She doesn't really seem to be. She's quite unusual but she seems very adept at interacting and even getting other people to do what she wants.

I am not qualified to decide that. She did claim she was diagnosed at age 9 but she does not talk about it much. She is extraverted which goes against the stereotype but introversion is not an autistic trait. Even if it is not innate one can learn how to interview and interact. Celebrities do that multiple times a day almost day. As far as manipulating others I do not know nearly enough to say.

I ran into this issue, roughly 15 years ago. My husband and I took our 2 oldest to a speech pathologist for an assessment (they were both under the age of 6 at the time and not yet talking; my in-laws were pushing for "professional help"), and the speech lady said she couldn't technically diagnose Autism. She said she was certain my son had it, but not my daughter. I questioned why my daughter wasn't autistic, when both children demonstrated the same developmental delays and patterns, but my son was a bit further behind his sister. She expressed surprise, but did not change her documentation.



This mindset was still very much ingrained in the general population when I started having my kids in the early-to-mid 2000s. Thankfully, the medical establishment didn't blame me, so at least I had that, which was huge. I still have no idea how family and acquaintances reconciled the "refrigerator mother" theory with my practice of attachment parenting, exclusive and extended nursing, constant baby holding, etc., but somehow they did.

My mom, up until literally a few weeks ago, still blamed my parenting ("Well, you made 'different' choices, so now you have 'different' kids.") My dad still thinks I caused all of the children to be on the spectrum because I held them "too much" as infants, and I refused to use corporal punishment. I just can't win.



That quality is still rare today. Those of us who reject certain popular theories/treatments, pushed by authoritative figures and organizations, are harshly judged by society in general, and oftentimes by other (NT?) parents of ASD kids. I don't think this particular aspect of humanity will ever go away.



Huh. I had no idea!



Boy, does that look familiar.

The parents of the ‘60s children grew up when America won WWII and lived in a country which predominated in military, industry, entertainment, and most any other thing one could measure. They often had lifelong careers with a guaranteed pension. Medicine was curing things previously assumed to be fatal. They were living a lifestyle their parents could never dream of. Why would people question authority?

Your parents are probably around my age so it is not surprising they would think too much hugging would make a child fragile.

Fair enough. I guess we don't really know aside from what is reported.