Actress Daryl Hannah has revealed a secret she's long kept under wraps in the newest issue of PEOPLE magazine.

The actress, 52, has been struggling with autism.

According to Fox News, Hannah revealed that she was diagnosed as a child and suffered from a "debilitating shyness" as a result.

The actress moved to Los Angeles at age 17 after her mother refused to institutionalize her, and though she became a successful actress, she did note that she's always been uncomfortable with her autism.

"I've never been comfortable being the center of attention," she said. "It's always freaked me out."

That fear gave her a reputation as a diva, according to Yahoo Canada, because she would refuse to meet with movie execs, appear on talk shows, or attend her own premieres.

Even after she started to become a big name in Hollywood, she admitted she was still "terrified" to tell people about her autism for fear of how they'd react.

Hannah has gone mostly off the grid in the last few years, focusing less on the spotlight and more on philanthropy, especially environmental activism. She was even arrested earlier this year alongside Robert Kennedy Jr. and his son Conor outside the White House, where the three were part of a protest.

Now, Hannah is ready to embrace the illness even more and not let her fears get the best of her.

"I'm a grown-up now," she said. "I've learned a couple of things that would have really made my life easier if I'd only known them 20 years ago...I wasted so much time scared, self-conscious, and insecure."

Hannah has appeared in over 50 movies in her career, including Splash, Steel Magnolias, Kill Bill, Blade Runner and Wall Street.

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