Comedian Matt Lucas, 52, has revealed he has been diagnosed with autism. Lucas shared this personal information for the first time during a recent interview on BBC Radio 2 with fellow comedian Romesh Ranganathan.
Lucas explained that his diagnosis influences his need for both social engagement and periods of quiet. "I enjoy periods of being very sociable, like you are in the theatre, and then I also enjoy those periods of solitude where I can just write on my own," he said. He elaborated on how this affects his schedule, stating, "on my days off, you know you do theatre six days a week, apart from resting and resting my voice and all of that, I like not to see people and give them a break from me, but just to have that recharge time is quite important to me."
Autism, previously defined as a serious developmental disorder, is now understood by experts to encompass a range of symptoms that can include repetitive behaviors, difficulty with routine changes, and challenges in social situations. People with autism may experience unusual reactions to sensory input, difficulty expressing themselves, and a preference for solitude.
Lucas also recently garnered attention for a significant change in his appearance. During an appearance on The One Show last month, he sported a beard, a look he grew in preparation for his role as Fagin in the West End production of "Oliver!" The actor, who has openly discussed his lifelong battle with alopecia since losing his hair at age six after a car accident, explained that he decided to grow his facial hair to see what would happen when he stopped shaving for a period.
His distinctive appearance, including his baldness from childhood, has previously been discussed by Lucas as a factor that shaped his career, allowing him to transform into different characters. He noted in a 2017 column for The Guardian that his baldness made him "distinctive, yet also allowed me to transform myself."
Lucas has also previously spoken about his substantial weight loss, dropping from an XXXL to a medium size. This change was prompted, in part, by the unexpected death of his father at age 52 and a realization of his own mortality. He described the COVID-19 pandemic as a period where he was "very big and I was getting bigger" due to inactivity and increased food consumption, leading him to prioritize fitness and weight management.