Eddie Izzard, 61, details the trauma of establishing her gender
‘I was caught stealing makeup when I was 15’: Eddie Izzard, 61, reveals she turned to SHOPLIFT as a teenager amid the trauma of determining her gender after her mother’s death
Eddie Izzard has revealed that she turned to shoplifting when she struggled to determine her gender as a teenager, following the death of her mother.
The comedian, 61, recently revealed she would add “Suzy” to her name, but in recent interviews opted to remain Eddie as the nickname is her “public name.”
Eddie explained that her mother’s death made it “impossible” for her to express herself – to the point of making herself sick when she was cast as a woman in a theater show while attending boarding school in her teens.
She said the protector: “After mom died, I was only with my brother and my dad, so even putting on a dress was impossible…
‘I was caught stealing makeup when I was 15… Suddenly I’m 16 and I’m cast as a gangster mole in this revue. I became psychosomatically ill’.
Open and honest: Eddie Izzard has revealed she turned to shoplifting when she struggled to determine her gender as a teenager, following the death of her mother (pictured earlier this month)
Tough times: Eddie explained that her mother’s death made it “impossible” for her to express herself – to the point of making herself sick when she was cast as a woman in a theater show while attending boarding school in her teens (pictured in 2000)
Despite being given the chance to discover her gender during the school performance, she was unable to tackle the job due to fear.
She explained, “They had to find someone else to do it. I could hear his performance from the room I was in. By the time it was over I was well again. I was probably thinking, ‘This is what I really want, but don’t I just sound like a boy?’”
Eddie continued, “When I came out I realized I didn’t look much… well, I kind of look like a trans person, but I think the world is more relaxed about that now, and so am I. We went through a unicorn phase, but we just have to be human…
“If we get boring, we’ve made it. “You’re lesbian or gay or bi or trans, yes, but what do you do?” “Oh, I’m a librarian.” “Are you a good librarian or a bad librarian?” ‘I’m a good librarian. I can find all the books for you.’
On the rise: The comedian, 61, recently revealed she would be adding ‘Suzy’ to her name, but in recent interviews opted to remain Eddie as the nickname is her ‘public name’
Her true self: She told The Guardian: ‘After mum died it was just me and my brother and my dad so even putting on a dress was impossible’
Or an astronaut. “Are you a good astronaut or a bad astronaut?” ‘Ah, a bad one, I’m afraid. I landed on the wrong planet…”
Last month, Eddie said she understands there could be confusion around her name and identity, but insisted no one could offend her.
She said, “So there’s all this now about people not knowing what to say — I prefer Suzy, but I don’t mind Eddie.” I prefer she/her, but I don’t mind him/her.
“No one can make a mistake unless they call me Gregory or Sabrina, and that’s not quite right. Everything else nobody can make a mistake and they can choose.”
Eddie added that it’s a “tough time” to be a trans person, saying, “This tough time with trans is just something we have to get through…
“We’re talking right now. And we will get through it. People get very angry on the internet and I just ignore it. I try to be really positive. I want to become a member of parliament.’
Speaking out: Last month, Eddie said she understands there could be confusion around her name and identity, but insisted no one could offend her