Neurodivergent artists: Actors and Writers of 'Patience' (plus resources and more)
The crime series "Patience" on PBS (adapted from the earlier French show Astrid et Raphaelle), features Patience Evans, a young autistic woman working in the criminal records department of the Yorkshire (UK) police department, and using her autistic qualities and high intelligence to help solve crimes.
Patience is played by Ella Maisy Purvis, who was diagnosed as a teen as with autism, and also ADHD.
She talks about the value of diagnosis: "When you go through that process, you really look back on all of your life and you’re like: 'Oh, of course, it makes so much sense. How did no one see it?'
"It’s like a journey that you go on, and it’s something that never really stops. But it’s fantastic.
“And a lot of people are kind of scared to go in and see if they are autistic or get a diagnosis, but it sets you free."
Purvis (at left in the image above) also comments on authenticity in filmmaking:
"I am neurodivergent, and I think authentic casting is never black and white...And I just don’t understand why you wouldn’t want someone with a really unique experience.
"On a chemical level, my brain is different. I mean everyone’s brain is different, but neurodivergent people’s brain is just wired in a different way.
"When things are more authentic, I think it touches more people. And that’s what was so great about this program — all of the autistic characters were autistic."
(From article: ‘Patience’ Star Ella Maisy Purvis: “You Don’t Have to Be Scared of Employing Neurodivergent People”, The Hollywood Reporter, January 27, 2025.)
Here’s a trailer for the show p[us interview video with Purvis, and more resources:
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Interview with Purvis
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Another autistic character is Billy Thompson (who leads a support group of other autistic adults), played by autistic actor Connor Curren.
In an interview related to his stage role of autistic boy Christopher in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, “Curren said he found coping with some aspects of his autism hard as a teenager, but now considers it an asset that makes him more determined and focused, and said he probably saw things differently than neurotypical actors.”
(From article Thanet students enjoy talk with inspiring autistic actor By InYourArea Community, 1 March 2022. inyourarea.co.uk.)
The writers of 'Patience' include Daniella DeVinter.
Her site profile notes she is "an Anglo-Danish writer, filmmaker, and academic [University of Cambridge] with an unhealthy interest in stories of sickness and obsession.
"She’s neurodivergent and chronically ill, with a chronic sense of humour that helps her make sense of her badly behaved body by telling bad jokes, good stories, and making films.
"From movie theatres to lecture theatres and television screens, she reaches audiences around the world, telling one weird tale at a time...She speaks English, Danish, and German fluently; French, Norwegian, and Swedish…not so fluently."
See more on her site danielladevinter.com.
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Related
There are countless lists online of artists either formally diagnosed or self-identified with neurodivergent traits. How can our ADHD, autism, dyslexia and other experiences contribute to being creative?
Therapist Julie Bjelland, LMFT says "A lot of autistic people talk about a really deep, profound connection to nature, to creativity, being able to think quickly..."
Maja Toudal: "I remember kind of being told as a teenager when I was diagnosed that autistic people aren't that creative."
From post:
Autism: Imagination, Attention and Other Assets for Creative People
Maja Toudal: "I remember kind of being told as a teenager when I was diagnosed that autistic people aren't that creative."
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Creative Mind Audio podcast episode: comments by therapist Julie Bjelland and Emily Kircher-Morris (from her Neurodiversity Podcast):
Embracing neurodivergent people as positive and valuable in a workplace
"Have you heard the statistic that neurodiverse employees are 90 to 140% more productive than non-neurodiverse? Isn't that amazing?"
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Julie Bjelland, LMFT specializes in Highly Sensitive People, Neurodiversity, and Autism in Women.
She notes "Many autistic women and sensitive adults are missed or misdiagnosed for decades. Learn how autism may present differently in internal, high-masking, and empathic individuals—and why recognition matters."
Explore articles, podcast episodes, and guides on her page of Autism Resources:
* Free Guide: Embracing Neurodiversity in the Workplace
* Autistic Energy Crash Recovery Guide (Free)
* Adult-Discovered Autism Group (inside community)
* Course: Discovering You’re Autistic As an Adult
* Autism in Women - information and research.
* Free Autism Quiz
* Autism Podcast Episodes
* Research: HSPs & Autism Similarities & Differences ...
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Therapist Lindsey Mackereth works "primarily with neurodivergent adults—especially AuDHDers (those who are both autistic and ADHD)—many of whom are deeply creative, even if they don’t always call themselves “artists.”
"What I see again and again is this push-pull: a deep desire to share something true, and a near-paralyzing fear of what might happen if they do."
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