19 TV And Film Characters Asexual People Relate To On A Deep Level

"It means a lot to see your own experiences reflected in a TV show that you love."

It can be difficult not seeing yourself represented onscreen, or worse, constantly watching your identity made into a punchline. We asked asexual members of the BuzzFeed Community what characters they have personally connected with or have interpreted as falling somewhere on the ace spectrum.

Here are the characters that have helped them see themselves in the best light:

1. Luna Lovegood, Harry Potter series

Warner Bros Pictures

"I've always considered Luna Lovegood to be ace. Outside of that little scene with Neville at the end of the last movie, we never actually saw her express any real interest in or attraction to anyone. While Harry is an extremely unreliable and frequently clueless narrator, I like to think he would have noticed if she did.

I identify very strongly with Luna, because we're both Ravenclaws who believe in extraordinary things. Like me, she's more interested in her work and her hobbies and her friendships than pursuing romance."

—Amelia Tumlin

2. Newt Scamander, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them

Warner Bros Pictures

"I'd have to say Newt from Fantastic Beasts 😊 other than him, I haven't really found any characters on TV shows available in my country which read as ace to me."

—Josha Nill, Facebook

3. Elsa, Frozen

Disney

"Honestly, and I know it's cliché, but Elsa from Frozen is really the only character that immediately comes to mind, probably because I see her as aromantic as well as asexual. She locks herself away in an ice palace, in an attempt to protect those she loves from her perceived 'brokenness,' and ends up discovering herself and learning to love herself as she is, and that is such an incredibly powerful message for someone who doesn't fit into the heteronormative mold thrust on us from birth. Elsa is a fucking QUEEN who has the strength and fortitude to be herself in a world that tells her she's wrong for being what she is."

—nicoleg46944188e

4. Scully and Fox, The X-Files

20th Century Fox

"I've always viewed Fox Mulder as ace. Scully and Mulder obviously care about each other considerably, but I never really read their relationship as sexual or even romantic. One thing that really sticks with me was an episode where a shapeshifting imposter replaces Mulder and is surprised at how 'boring' the guy is. The imposter was especially bewildered that a man as attractive as Mulder was not dating anyone and wasn't trying to sleep with his partner. Mulder is way more interested in his job and hobbies than he is with sex, and I can certainly relate to that."

—awestfall6542

"Growing up I related to Scully, who I couldn't imagine being slightly interested in a relationship. It used to bug me when people shipped her with Mulder, and when the series made that canon I was so dismayed! I haven't watched any of the ones where they're a couple and I refuse to."

—Nikki Spunde, Facebook

5. Jughead, Riverdale

CW

"I don't know if it's just me, but I think Jughead can still be ace. He's still figuring himself out, he's a kid, we've had coming out as gay storylines for characters who've appeared to be straight in the past so why not an ace character as well?"

—Vanessa Atkins, Facebook

6. Lt. Commander Data, Star Trek: The Next Generation

CBS

"I'm a bit old school, I guess, but growing up I always related to Lt. Commander Data. I didn't realize until much much later that asexuality was probably a big factor in this."

—setsunamin

7. Todd, BoJack Horseman

Netflix

"For people who say that representation isn't important, I've watched the scene from Bojack Horseman where Todd (almost) comes out as asexual probably thirty times now. It's masterfully done three seasons in and his sexuality is introduced as just a part of a well-rounded character. His vulnerable admission resonates with my (and other aces') experiences, and the reaction of his friend with, 'Well, that's okay!' is something a lot of us need to hear. It means a lot to see your own experiences reflected in a TV show that you love, and I'm really excited to see more character development in later seasons."

—aceinspace123

8. Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games series

Lionsgate Films

"Katniss Everdeen is aro/ace and nothing can convince me otherwise. (But how is this so, Micki? She had TWO romantic interests!) She only pursues both of them out of desperation. One interest she pursued, y'know, for her l i f e — and then she was confused as to how she lead him on. She views romantic gestures as ways to show love for non-family members, not necessarily because she was interested in a non-platonic relationship. But straight up, she is not straight."

—Micki Buckner, Facebook

9. Dr. Spencer Reid, Criminal Minds

CBS

"I don't think that he is a canon asexual character, but as a person who is asexual, but not sex-repulsed, I can identify with his want for companionship and love — which he doesn't always need to get from a romantic partner but from his family of friends."

—amandashy

10. Bilbo Baggins, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Warner Bros. Pictures

"Bilbo Baggins is who I identify with in asexual terms. Home, books, good food, and good friends are all I need."

— sarah9591

11. Charlie Weasley, Harry Potter series

Warner Bros Pictures

"I like to think that Charlie Weasley is aromantic and asexual. I'm pretty sure that JK Rowling has said that he's more interested in dragons than women, but has also specifically stated that he isn't gay, so that sounds like some aro/ace subtext to me."

—nikis4abceca7b

"Charlie Weasley may be a side character in the books with only a split-second photo appearance in the movies, but I kind of wanted to be him growing up. There's not much cooler of a life that I can think of than getting to work with dragons. Plus, I figure if the asexual thing for dragons came from anywhere in particular it would probably be him, right?"

—Sydney Anderson, Facebook

12. Most of the Doctors from Doctor Who

BBC

"Most iterations of The Doctor from Doctor Who qualify, to me, as asexual. Ten and eleven certainly had physical attractions to (and involvement with) Queen Elizabeth I and River Song respectively, but most Doctors show no interest in sexual matters."

—davidcrose89

13. Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory

CBS

"Since the show came out, I always thought Sheldon and Amy would be wonderful characters to make asexual. I think it would have been amazing to see an asexual couple represented in the media. And yes, Amy and Sheldon are super awkward at times and I understand that not all asexual people could relate to them, but at the same time I feel like it would have been awesome to see characters/couples not cave to societies norm that 'couples have to have sex to be happy.' Instead I wish the writers would have developed the relationship the two had with each other by making each other better people and show that people who identify as asexual can still feel romantic love even if there is no desire for sexual intimacy."

—Jessica Lynn

"Although I've had many people disagree with me on this one, I've always related to Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory as an asexual person. Sheldon has never seemed to have a sex drive at all — and is often ridiculed for it — which is also pretty relatable for a lot of asexual people. When he got involved in a romantic relationship the question of sex came up more often, and he was avoidant for a long time. After his girlfriend — who didn't always seem to respect his feelings on sex — continuously pushed for him to be intimate with her, several serious conversations arose about romantic attraction and how he saw sex as something he would do mainly for her, not himself, which is similar to how I (and other asexual friends of mine) view sex with a romantic partner."

—zoeisnotdead

14. Pearl, Steven Universe

Cartoon Network

"Pearl from Steven Universe has always come to mind. She spends her time fighting for her friends and caring for them than thinking about romance and sex. Pearl has never had a love interest in the show nor do I think she ever will because she is too passionate about raising Steven, fighting for her planet, and keeping everything in check. She has a close bond with her friends and won't let a man/woman get in her way to stop that."

—erinofthesea

15. Raphael Santiago, Shadowhunters

Freeform

"Raphael's saying 'I've always been this way' is not because he's a vampire. It meant a lot to hear him say that and to see that he is capable of romantic feelings. It was important to see the person he told go 'huh okay' and back off from their advance, along with later having that same character say they'd want to be together even if he doesn't want sex — that they don't want just a sexual relationship. Which, sure, the relationship's messed up — and they don't get together — but it still means an lot for an character to say 'I've always been this way, I just don't like sex' and another character to not alienate them for it."

—chancekieran

16. Hiro Hamada, Big Hero 6

Walt Disney Animation Studios

"I like how his character isn't at all focused on romance or girls in general, his main focus is his work. The only real love in the plot is love between friends, brothers, and the strange love a big fluffy robot. Hiro is essentially a young genius, and he doesnt let love stand in the way of anything."

—NovaFox47

17. Belle, Beauty and the Beast

Disney

"Growing up, I always identified with Belle from Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Since I have come to understand that I am hetero-romantic asexual, I like to label Belle as a het-ace, too. There is lots of evidence to back me up, so I don't feel like I'm grasping for straws.

She has no interest in the town's people, is reading adventure novels, doesn't want to get married, finds Gaston repulsive despite his physique, fell in love with the beast without needing to find him attractive, etc. Seeing her as ace also gives me hope that I might find love despite my lack of sexual attraction."

—mariac4e955f943

18. Liz Lemon, 30 Rock

NBC

"Liz Lemon in early seasons of 30 Rock (before she found her bae and learned about what turned her on — you do you, Lemon). Her character wasn't even meant to be asexual, just lazy and/or depressed, and really anti-social. But you know what...dammit, it was great to see a successful, likable woman joking about how over sex she was."

—Austin Wright, Facebook

19. Dumbledore, Harry Potter series

Warner Bros. Pictures

"I've always thought Dumbledore was asexual. He focused on things such as books, his job, and friendship while seeming to ignore sex and romance entirely, making him someone I related to and revered. He always seemed content despite any significant other, giving me hope that what I was feeling (or not feeling) was okay, and that I could be happy too.

Even when J.K. Rowling announced he was gay, I remained convinced he belonged on the asexuality spectrum, because it appeared any romantic notions from him had been expressed toward only Grindelwald. Ultimately, this headcanon helped me come to terms with my own identity and continues to show me that I don't have to change who I am in order to have a happy or fulfilling life."

—miranda713

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