Queen of Comedy: Eddie Izzard on 40 Years of Being Out
Ahead of a New Zealand tour, Eddie Izzard, now Suzy, reflects on her solo performance of Hamlet, past stand-up routines, and her journey with identity. Teasing Izzard about laziness seems unfair, considering her remarkable endurance feats. She once ran 43 marathons in 51 days, then six years later, completed 27 marathons in 27 days, followed by 31 marathons in 31 days—each marathon accompanied by a stand-up show that same day.
Currently, Izzard is in the midst of two world tours performed in English, French, German, and Spanish. One tour features a solo production of Hamlet, where she embodies around 23 characters from Shakespeare’s longest play on a bare stage.
The other tour presents The Remix, a stand-up comedy show compiling highlights from her past six or so routines dating back to the 1990s. This show helped establish Izzard among Britain's greatest stand-up comics.
Despite joking that The Remix might be Izzard's way of taking it easy, it becomes clear during an interview that this is far from true. With a striking blonde ponytail and fresh lipstick, she commands attention as she speaks from London.
“From experience, any Izzard interview will include tangents mostly about thoroughly explaining things. A discussion on Hamlet becomes a small Ted Talk on the history of pre-Shakespeare British theatre since the Romans.”
Izzard’s performances and conversations reveal not lazy indulgence but intense dedication, creative depth, and a broad cultural curiosity.
Author’s summary: Eddie Izzard combines incredible physical endurance with inventive theatre and comedy, showcasing 40 years of bold creativity and a compelling personal journey.