Famous Introverts in Their Own Words
By Keith ·
Lists of famous introverts are everywhere, and most of them are guesses. This one has a rule: a person is on it only if they have described themselves as introverted or shy, in their own words, in a source we can link to. We note which word they used, because shy and introverted are not the same.
There are 5 people on the list so far. We add more as we verify them.
| Person | Word they used | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Zendaya | introverted | Vogue, 73 Questions |
| Emma Watson | introverted | Wonderland, 2014 |
| Jenna Ortega | introverted | Harper's Bazaar, 2025 |
| Marissa Mayer | shy | Vogue |
| Cillian Murphy | shy | CBS News, 2026 |
Zendaya
"I'm a very shy, introverted person."
Asked what her followers might not know about her, she said she thought they already knew this. In the same video she said the loner, introverted side of her character MJ was the part closest to home. Source: Vogue, 73 Questions.
Emma Watson
"I'm genuinely a shy, socially awkward, introverted person."
She said big parties are too much stimulation for her and that she needs time outs. Source: Wonderland, 2014.
Jenna Ortega
"...as somebody who's quite introverted, that was so intense and so scary."
She was describing the pressure and attention that followed the first season of Wednesday. Source: Harper's Bazaar, 2025.
Marissa Mayer
"I'm just geeky and shy and I like to code."
Yahoo's chief executive at the time told Vogue she has had to discipline herself to deal with shyness, especially at parties. Source: Vogue. More: our article on Marissa Mayer.
Cillian Murphy
"I guess I'm just quite a shy person."
He has not called himself an introvert in any interview we found, but he has described himself as shy more than once. Source: CBS News, 2026. More: our article on Cillian Murphy.
Who is not here, and why
Some names appear on almost every famous introverts list without a source we could trace to the person, for example quotes attributed to them on social media accounts they don't run. Rather than repeat them, we leave them off until we find the original interview.
Common questions
How do you decide who counts as a famous introvert?
Only people who have described themselves as introverted or shy in an interview, talk or their own writing, and only when we can link to it. We don't guess from someone's manner or assign personality types.
Why isn't a well-known introvert on the list?
Usually because we couldn't find a first-hand source we could link to. Many quotes that circulate online have no traceable origin. We add people as we verify them.
Is shy the same as introverted?
No. Shyness is about nervousness or discomfort around people, while introversion is about where you get your energy. The list marks which word each person used.