Celebrities living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a psychological condition characterized by a series of obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, or both. These intrusive thoughts create recurrent and unwanted impulses, which almost always lead to anxiety crises. In this gallery, we've gathered some celebrities who have acknowledged having the condition. Let's check them out!

The pop diva has OCD and says it manifests in some excessive cleaning and organizational rituals.

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In a 2013 interview with Z100 radio, she shared her story and mentioned the magnate, aviator, and film director Howard Hughes, who also had the disorder: "I am so OCD. I always want to put things in alphabetical order... I am also a little Howard Hughes about germs."

For a long time, Howard Hughes was considered eccentric due to some behaviors. It was only later diagnosed with OCD. According to Aventuras na História magazine, due to his condition, he had unusual habits, such as a extreme germphobia and always eating the same food for dinner.

Elon Musk and Howard Hughes: different eras, but strikingly similar men

Comedian and host Howie Mandel said on ABC News that he suffers from the disorder. Among his most frequent obsessions is a terror of germs, although various other symptoms can manifest quietly. Amid his struggles, he declared, "I'm always on the brink of death in my head." As you'll note, he doesn't shake hands, but instead gives a fist bump.

The actor Alec Baldwin shared in an interview with the 'What's One More' podcast that living with OCD gets more challenging every day. "OCD is something I personally struggle with," said Alec, who was 63 at the time.

"I'm grateful to Howie [Mandel] for opening up at a time when few people were talking about this publicly, and there was even more of a stigma about OCD and mental health than there is today. It's through empathy, understanding and being kinder to one another, that we can finally remove the stigma and change the narrative."

Megan Fox has also opened up about her battle with OCD, sharing her fear of coming into contact with bacteria in an interview with Allure magazine. “Putting my mouth where a million other mouths have been, just knowing all the bacteria you carry in your mouth? Ucch!"

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Fox also said she avoids public restrooms because "every time someone uses a bathroom and they flush, all the bacteria is shot into the air...This is a sickness, I have an illness,--this is not OK anymore."

Justin Timberlake has also acknowledged his struggle with the disorder. In an interview with FemaleFirst, he said that he has OCD and trouble focusing on things.

According to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, South African actress Charlize Theron said she was obsessed with order and unable to relax at home if anything is out of place.

“I really, really lie in bed and [am] not able to sleep because I think, ‘I saw something in that cabinet that just shouldn’t be there,’” she told Contact Music. “I don’t do counting or any of that stuff, but I have a real thing about chaos.”

Leonardo DiCaprio, another celebrity living with OCD, shared with the Daily Mirror that he became aware of his disorder after filming 'The Aviator' (2005), when he continued to embody the personality of his character, pacing and stepping on gum stains before going on set. But he said his symptoms started as a kid: “My thing was not stepping on cracks, or not stepping on certain things,” the Oscar-winning actor shared, per DigitalSpy.

In an interview on Luciana Gimenez's show, Brazilian actress Luciana Vendramini spoke candidly about her discovery of OCD: "I was biking around the lagoon when I stopped. I felt an uncontrollable fear and even thought it might be a panic attack, but it wasn't."

She continued, "At that moment, I was held captive by a thought that said 'I will only leave here after three people wearing yellow shirts pass by.' So, I stayed there and started to cry."

The multi-talented Billy Bob Thornton revealed that his disorder stems from a difficult childhood. Speaking to The Independent in 2004, he said he also has a phobia of antiques, especially of large, old French silverware

He acknowledged that this condition is incredibly draining and also disclosed other peculiarities, such as constantly performing mathematical calculations and assigning numbers to people, thus preventing him from using them in certain situations.

Jessica Alba is another star whose life is intertwined with OCD. She openly discussed the issue with Cosmo Girl magazine: I used to unplug every single appliance in my house. Or I'd double-check every door in my house to make sure it was locked at night."

"It was like a panic come over me and I had to do something, and once I did it, I was OK. ... It was really me needing to control something," she continued.

The former British athlete, David Beckham, has spoken in various interviews about his experience with OCD. In 2023, Netflix released the series 'Beckham,' a documentary about his life which highlighted, among many facts, what life is like with the disorder he discovered in the early 2000s.

Photo: Netflix

Speaking to El País, he disclosed how tiring his cleaning routine (one of his compulsions) is: "I cut the melted wax from candles and clean the glass... That's my 'pet peeve,' having smoke inside the candle container," he added.

Photo: Netflix

But he joked that there was a bright side for Victoria. "I clean so well that I'm not sure if it's really appreciated by my wife, to be honest," he said.

Photo: Netflix

The 'King of Latin Music,' Roberto Carlos, in an interview on 'Programa do Jô' on TV Globo, not only admitted to having the disorder but also shared some embarrassing situations due to his "quirks." He stated: "Having OCD is suffering."

What a coincidence! While interviewing Roberto Carlos, the Brazilian comedian also revealed his own OCD and some unusual quirks, but noted that over time, he has learned to overcome them.

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