Kimberley Nixon Feels ‘Lighter’ After ADHD and Autism Diagnosis: Actress Opens Up on Mental Health Journey
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Welsh actress Kimberley Nixon has opened up about a deeply personal chapter of her life, revealing how her recent ADHD and autism diagnosis brought a sense of clarity and relief after years of mental health challenges.
Known for her standout roles in Fresh Meat, Wild Child, and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, Nixon has spoken candidly about her struggles with perinatal OCD, a condition she developed after giving birth during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
A Long-Awaited Diagnosis: “It’s Just Different”
After two and a half years of intense anxiety following the birth of her son, Nixon decided to dig deeper into longstanding patterns she had experienced throughout her life. What began as a personal investigation into her mental health ultimately led to a life-changing diagnosis.
“Getting diagnosed with ADHD and autism felt like a weight lifted,” Nixon shared during an interview on BBC Radio Wales. “The assessments were incredibly thorough. They looked into every part of my life—past and present.”
Nixon reflected on the relief the diagnosis brought: “I’ve realised it’s not that my brain is wrong—it’s just different. I don’t process or interpret things the same way as others, and that always felt like a problem. But now, it just feels like a difference.”
The actress, originally from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, says that since her diagnosis, she has become more compassionate with herself and feels “kinder,” describing it as “really lovely.”
Opening Up About Perinatal OCD
Nixon has also been vocal about her experience with perinatal obsessive compulsive disorder, a condition that affects women during pregnancy or within a year after childbirth. Unlike the stereotypical portrayals of OCD, Nixon said her symptoms were centered on intrusive thoughts, repetitive mental loops, and distressing compulsions—often driven by an overwhelming anxiety for her baby’s wellbeing.
“It wasn’t the kind of OCD people think about,” she explained. “I’m not a neat freak or super-organized. But with perinatal OCD, I had disturbing thoughts, fears, and compulsions that were absolutely consuming.”
After undergoing years of IVF, Nixon finally gave birth to her son at the height of the pandemic. She described that time as the “big catalyst” for her mental health challenges.
“I was just convinced I was doing everything wrong—whether it was feeding, temperature, or crying,” she said in a past interview. “I was constantly anxious, hyper-vigilant, and terrified.”
Nixon has since used her platform—including her Instagram with over 250,000 followers—to raise awareness about perinatal OCD, which she says is “not as widely recognised as postnatal depression.”
Shining On Screen Again in Shardlake
Despite her personal challenges, Nixon continues to thrive professionally. She recently starred in ITV’s Shardlake, portraying the character Joan in the adaptation of CJ Sansom’s historical mystery novel Dissolution. Set during the reign of Henry VIII, the series follows lawyer Matthew Shardlake as he investigates a murder in a secluded monastery.
Filmed in Budapest, the show felt like a homecoming of sorts for Nixon, who studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama—as did fellow cast members Arthur Hughes and Anthony Boyle. She described the experience as “a little Hungarian Welsh college reunion.”
Breaking the Stigma
Nixon’s story is one of resilience, discovery, and empowerment. Her decision to share her mental health journey so openly offers encouragement to others navigating similar paths.
“It’s okay to be different,” she says. “And the more we talk about these conditions—ADHD, autism, perinatal OCD—the more understanding we build for ourselves and others.”
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