Queen of comedy: Eddie Izzard on 40 years of being out

Queen of Comedy: Eddie Izzard on 40 Years of Being Out

Ahead of a New Zealand tour, Eddie Izzard—now Suzy, though either is fine—reflects on her career, from solo Hamlet performances to classic stand-up routines. It’s hard to tease Izzard about laziness, given her extraordinary feats: running 43 marathons in 51 days, then 27 marathons in 27 days, and later 31 marathons in 31 days, each day ending with a stand-up show. Currently, she’s juggling two world tours, performing in English, French, German, and Spanish.

Solo Hamlet and Stand-Up Legacy

One tour features a solo Hamlet, where Izzard performs around 23 roles from Shakespeare’s longest play on a bare stage. The other is a stand-up show called The Remix, a collection of highlights from her routines since the 1990s, which have cemented her status as one of Britain’s greatest stand-up comedians.

Not Taking It Easy

Despite the “greatest hits” format, Izzard is far from resting. Appearing on Zoom from London, with a striking blonde ponytail and freshly applied lipstick, she quickly dispels any notion of taking it easy. Interviews with Izzard are known for their tangents, often turning into mini lectures—such as a discussion on Hamlet evolving into a brief history of pre-Shakespearean British theatre.

“It’s possibly unreasonable teasing Eddie – now Suzy, but either is fine – Izzard about laziness.”

“From experience, this writer knows that any Izzard interview will include tangents mostly about Izzard thoroughly explaining things.”

Author’s Summary

Eddie Izzard, now Suzy, continues to redefine comedy and performance, blending marathon endurance with theatrical brilliance and a unique voice that challenges expectations.

NZ Herald — 2025-11-05