20 Famous Highly Sensitive People
We love genius in all its forms. And we are, as a species, often selfish, short-sighted, and without boundaries when it comes to it. We want the products of that genius – quickly, consistently, perfectly. But we too often fail to acknowledge the source — and price — of that genius.
We gravitate toward famous Highly Sensitive People, usually for what they do, with little to no regard for who they are.
With or without fame, fortune, or genius-level intelligence and talent, Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) intrinsically know they are somehow different. The High Sensitivity (HS) that defines their neurological makeup from birth steers them in the direction of supreme qualities like creativity, empathy, and intuition.
Most will fall under the world’s radar. They are, after all, part of a small-but-significant slice of humanity. And our fast-paced, competitive society doesn’t leave much room for understanding, let alone embracing, people who live outside the bell curve.
For those seeking deeper self-understanding and emotional support, HSP Counseling in Canton can help Highly Sensitive People recognize their traits as strengths rather than limitations.
But there are those we welcome for no other reason than they are famous. Highly Sensitive People are often as unaware of their unique trait as are those who want the benefit of their gifts.
Inventors, explorers, artists, musicians, thespians, poets, mediums, and mystics.
While we can’t simply paint them with a broad brush of presumption, there’s a good chance you will find High Sensitivity at their core.
Generalize this non-general group into an umbrella characterization of “creative,” and you may come close to a touchstone for understanding HSPs.
If we are more content to believe that everything seeks balance, then balance for the creative will come at a high price.
The ability to see beauty, joy, and complex patterns where the less creative, less sensitive don’t has an equally extreme dark side.
Highly sensitive artists, regardless of medium, are especially vulnerable to darkness and sorrow.
They are, therefore, prone to shyness, isolation, and depression, especially if they aren’t embraced for who they are by their family and/or community.
In the realm of famous Highly Sensitive People, no one represented this often invisible dichotomy more so than the late Robin Williams.
What made him incomparable as a comic – and even as a serious actor – was also his neutron star.
Williams was as deeply rooted in awareness of the human condition as he was expansive in expressing it. But this gift, this seemingly effortless way of connecting to people who can’t even connect to themselves, is weighty.
No one can give levity and approachability to darkness without spending a lot of time in it.
When it comes to the connection between creativity and HS, author Pearl S. Buck sums it up perfectly:
The truly creative mind in any field is no more than this: A human creature born abnormally, inhumanly sensitive.
Bottom line: Famous Highly Sensitive People become famous because of how they embrace and express their High Sensitivity – even if they are unaware of the trait.
Making the most of High Sensitivity depends on keeping the inherent strengths of HS at the helm. Only then can the many advantages of HS prevail.
(Not sure if you’re an HSP? Take this quiz to find out.)
The HSP who lives true to the special gifts — and needs — of High Sensitivity can live a life rich with meaning, depth, and pleasure.
The HS trait offers exceptionality.
HSPs’ finely tuned nervous systems make them “a natural” in their respective fields.
Not inclined to seek fame for fame’s sake, Highly Sensitive People become famous merely by their commitment to their craft, whatever that may be. Their hard wiring predisposes them to be super-creative, diligent, and empathic. In Pearl Buck’s words, “inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that is where I renew my springs that never dry up.”
HSPs are often poets, writers, musicians, teachers, doctors, healers, lawyers, scientists, artists, and/or philosophers.
Famous Highly Sensitive People
Here’s a list of 20 famous Highly Sensitive People, all of whom have achieved global recognition for excellence in their fields:
- Abraham Lincoln
- Jane Goodall
- Princess Diana
- Katherine Hepburn
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Albert Einstein
- Glenn Close
- Steve Martin
- Eleanor Roosevelt
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Robert Frost
- Emily Dickinson
- Frank Lloyd Wright
- Ansel Adams
- Frida Kahlo
- Barbra Streisand
- Mozart
- Neil Young
- Alanis Morisette
- Elton John.
- Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln was known for his deep empathy, introspective nature, and emotional sensitivity, often carrying the weight of others’ suffering. His reflective thinking and moral courage helped guide the country through its darkest times. Despite personal struggles with melancholy, his sensitivity became a source of strength.
- Jane Goodall
Goodall’s extraordinary connection with animals and nature reflects her deep sensitivity and compassion. Her ability to patiently observe and intuitively connect with chimpanzees revolutionized primatology. She continues to inspire with her gentle activism and emotional intelligence.
- Princess Diana
Princess Diana was known for her emotional vulnerability, compassion, and humanitarian work. Her deep empathy allowed her to connect with people across the world, especially those in pain. As a public figure, her sensitivity sometimes made life challenging, but it also made her beloved.
- Katharine Hepburn
Fiercely independent and emotionally complex, Hepburn was a strong woman with a sensitive core. Her thoughtful performances often channeled deep emotional depth. Behind her bold image was a person who valued authenticity and privacy.
- Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. King’s emotional sensitivity fueled his unwavering compassion and commitment to justice. He deeply felt the pain of his community and transformed that empathy into powerful nonviolent resistance. His speeches echoed both strength and soulful depth.
- Albert Einstein
Einstein was not only a scientific genius but also a profoundly introspective and sensitive soul. He spoke often about imagination, wonder, and the human condition. His quiet demeanor and moral awareness were hallmarks of a highly sensitive person.
- Glenn Close
Close has spoken openly about her emotional sensitivity and how it informs her acting. She brings profound depth and subtlety to her roles, often portraying complex, emotionally rich characters. Her inner awareness has also fueled her advocacy for mental health.
- Steve Martin
Though known for comedy, Steve Martin is a deep thinker with a rich emotional life. His writing and music reveal a more introverted, sensitive side. He has used creativity to express and often shield his sensitivity.
- Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor was a quiet powerhouse, driven by a deep empathy for others. Her sensitivity to injustice guided her advocacy for human rights. Though shy and reserved, her impact on the world was profound.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
As a transcendentalist, Emerson expressed an acute awareness of nature, emotion, and the soul. His essays and lectures reflect the inner world of a highly sensitive person. He championed individuality and deep introspection.
- Robert Frost
Frost’s poetry reveals a deep sensitivity to human emotion and the rhythms of nature. His reflective, often melancholic tone captures the quiet struggles and beauty of life. He transformed subtle observations into profound truths.
- Emily Dickinson
Dickinson lived much of her life in solitude, deeply connected to her thoughts, feelings, and environment. Her poems reflect an intense emotional awareness and introspective sensitivity. She saw and felt the world in ways many overlooked.
- Frank Lloyd Wright
Wright’s architecture was not only artistic but emotionally intuitive, blending structure with human experience. He had a keen sense of spatial harmony and beauty, rooted in deep personal sensitivity. His work reflects a desire to connect people with nature and emotion.
- Ansel Adams
Adams had a heightened sensitivity to light, landscape, and the emotional essence of nature. His black-and-white photography captures stillness and intensity, revealing a deeply perceptive inner world. He used his sensitivity to advocate for environmental preservation.
- Frida Kahlo
Kahlo channeled her physical and emotional pain into striking, raw self-portraits. Her work exposes the vulnerability and strength of a highly sensitive person. She felt deeply and expressed even deeper.
- Barbra Streisand
Streisand has spoken about her struggles with anxiety and stage fright, revealing a sensitive interior behind her commanding voice. Her emotional performances resonate because they come from an authentic place. Her sensitivity has made her both relatable and iconic.
- Mozart
Mozart’s music is filled with emotion, nuance, and intuitive brilliance. His extraordinary sensitivity to sound and feeling allowed him to compose with unmatched emotional depth. He often felt misunderstood, a common trait among highly sensitive individuals.
- Neil Young
Young’s music often deals with vulnerability, loss, and emotional truth. His raw, unfiltered lyrics reflect a highly sensitive soul navigating a noisy world. He has never been afraid to show his emotional side through his art.
- Alanis Morissette
Open about being a highly sensitive person (HSP), Alanis has embraced her emotional intensity as a creative force. Her lyrics explore vulnerability, healing, and self-awareness. She is a voice for many who feel deeply in a fast-moving world.
- Elton John
Elton’s flamboyant public persona contrasts with his emotionally rich songwriting and inner struggles. His sensitivity is evident in his ballads and life journey. He has used music to express deep feelings and connect with others on a profound level.
The Gifts of Highly Sensitive People
HSPs absorb and ponder information more deeply. They’re detail-oriented and attentive to nuance. They notice things others may miss.
The primatologist Jane Goodall is a great example of a famous HSP.
In 1960, at the age of 26, Jane Goodall traveled to what is now Tanzania and began exploring the little-known world of chimpanzees.
She entered their world as a neighbor/participant rather than as an observer.
In her words, “A sense of calm came over me. More and more often I found myself thinking this is where I belong. This is what I came into this world to do.”
To enter into the wild chimpanzees’ world and collect data required attention to detail, a keen interest in her subjects (chimps), and a passion for pursuing meaning in ways that she believed were important.
The famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright represents the HSP prototype.
Wright’s philosophy of “organic architecture,” i.e. that buildings should develop out of natural surroundings, was novel.
He rebelled against tradition and classic architecture with his innovative style. His precast concrete blocks, for example, are now a signature accolade in his voluminous portfolio of (then) new techniques.
In addition to architecture, Wright spent much of his time writing and teaching.
HSPs yearn for deep connection. With incredible intuition, they live according to their gut feeling.
Take, for instance, Princess Diana of Wales.
The world remembers her as deeply caring, selfless, humble despite her fame, and introspective while thoughtfully expressive.
Once you understand HS, you can’t help but see Princess Diana in its context and light. So many of her memorable qualities are also HSP qualities.
For example, she often wrote thank-you cards to anyone who gave her a gift, including the thousands who brought gifts to Prince William after his birth. Another example of the Princess’s influence came in 1987 when she shook hands with an HIV patient. The impact of that moment wasn’t as much the handshake as the absence of protective gloves
Her compassion, emotional depth, and sensitivity continue to inspire those who identify as Highly Sensitive People—and today, many benefit from support such as HSP therapy in Canton to better understand and embrace those same traits.
The singular photo of that interaction promoted global HIV awareness and educated the public about AIDS and the human beings who had it.
Princess Diana was a person who appreciated humanity. “I’d like to be queen of people’s hearts — in people’s hearts — but I don’t see myself being Queen of this country,” she said during a 1995 interview.
HSPs help people because they understand people’s needs. They feel others’ feelings and needs.
Because HSPs can read people well, they naturally catch indicators of deception through body language, rate of speech, or type of eye contact.
Princess Diana may even have anticipated her own death.
In a handwritten note to her butler in October 1993, she wrote, “My husband is planning ‘an accident’ in my car, brake failure and serious head injury in order to make the path clear for him to marry [Camilla].”
HSPs tend not to like anything that is ‘extra’ – including large groups of people, bright lights, odors, and noise.
HSPs tend to be drawn to nature. That’s because nature provides them with a spiritual resonance that defies words.
For the poet and HSP Ralph Waldo Emerson, nature represented the divine. It provided insight into the laws of the universe.
A 2002 Smithsonian article described Emerson as having “a gift … a confident exuberance, accepting the tragic aspect of life, but also full of hope and belief; capable of a genial irony but devoid of cynicism and academic intellectual vanity.”
“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” is one of many famous Emerson quotes that illuminate the visionary that he was.
For those who don’t understand, High Sensitivity can be deemed a weakness, fault, or problem.
Mistaking the HS trait for something else is common. The ‘something else’ usually takes the form of introversion, high emotionality, standoffishness, insecurity, apprehension, neurosis, or depression.
Emily Dickinson, the great American Poet, is a fantastic example of a famous HSP.
Dickinson spent the last 20 or so years of her life in isolation, rarely leaving the house. She may have preferred solitude so she could focus on her inner world.
The death of her mother, favorite nephew, and several close friends increased her preference for solitude and heightened her “nervous disposition.”
Highly Sensitive people think and feel deeply.
Emily Dickinson mourned the death of family and friends deeply and for the rest of her life. She was a prolific poet who wrote over 1800 poems in her 56 years of life.
Ironically, she published only 10 during her lifetime.
This poem about hope highlights many of Dickinson’s HSP qualities, including creativity, deep empathy, intuition, and a beautiful way with words.
“Hope” is the thing with feathers
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
(yet) never stops – at all –
And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
… sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –
I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.
Emily Dickinson
HSPs are natural leaders, trendsetters, and truth tellers. When they embrace their strengths, their talents shine.
And that shine is not driven by pursuit of fame, but by pursuit of expression.
Dr Elayne Daniels is an international coach and private-practice psychologist. Her specialties include eating disorder recovery, body image, and helping Highly Sensitive People thrive. Contact her here for more information. Read more of her blog articles here.
