Aiden Delbis in Bugonia. Photo © Focus Features/Everett Collection.
When a young actor steps into the spotlight and conveys authentic neurodivergent representation, it can feel like more than just a “breakout role.” It can feel like a door opening. That’s one reason 19-year-old actor Aidan Delbis has quickly become a name many in the neurodivergent community are paying attention to. Delbis plays Don, a quiet, earnest autistic cousin, in Yorgos Lanthimos’s Bugonia, a tense, violent story.
In an interview with Teen Vogue, Delbis described how he’s still processing the speed of it all. “I’m probably experiencing a bunch of emotions that I likely haven’t totally processed yet.” That honesty will sound familiar to many neurodivergent people. Sometimes big moments don’t feel “big” until later, after your nervous system catches up.
Representation that isn’t a Stereotype
One thing that stands out in coverage of Delbis is how often the conversation returns to how neurodivergence shows up on screen. Delbis told Teen Vogue that Don has “a natural sense of empathy,” and that his perspective can be “more unbiased…and often the most pure.”
He also pointed to a reality many families and neurodivergent adults know too well: “The world has not always been kind or open-minded towards neurodivergent people,” he said. That observation rings true because it’s not abstract. It’s a lived experience, and it’s still true far too often.
And importantly, Bugonia reportedly doesn’t make Don’s diagnosis the entire story. It’s not even mentioned per se. Delbis’s depiction of Don represents visibility without caricature.
A Path that Didn’t Start in Hollywood
Delbis got his start in high school productions and through The Miracle Project, an inclusive theater and film program.
In a local Q&A at Crescenta Valley High School, Delbis described the moment acting clicked for him when their theater group began doing “more complex and in-depth stuff,” and he realized it was something he wanted to pursue “for the time being.”
He also shared a very relatable origin story for landing the role of Don in Bugonia: a casting call, a monologue he already knew, and follow-up questions about the film’s themes. It’s a reminder that big breaks can come from small, steady steps, especially when you’re supported by people who see your strengths.
“Empathy” in Character-Building
In People Magazine, Delbis’s perspective on representation is framed around something broader than casting rules: empathy. He emphasized we should try to be “more empathetic to people with different worldviews.”
That message fits the moment we’re living in, where labels are loud, but listening is rare. Whether you’re autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, twice-exceptional, or a parent navigating systems that don’t make room for your kid, empathy isn’t a “nice-to-have.” It’s a practical tool for getting through the day.
Delbis’s rise won’t solve the day-to-day realities of neurodivergent life. But stories like his can do something powerful: they can remind people—especially teens and young adults—that their voice belongs in the room, their perspective is valid, and their future can be bigger than the boxes other people try to put them in.
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