In a wide-ranging and candid interview, acclaimed comedian and actor Eddie Izzard has reflected on her career trajectory, her demanding physical feats, and her current theatrical venture – a one-woman production of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Izzard drew a curious, if coincidental, parallel between her own rise and the fall of a political titan, noting, "When Margaret Thatcher's career stopped, mine started really taking off. I don't think it was linked." She was quick to clarify the comment was observational, not causal, adding her strong disagreement with the former Prime Minister's politics.
Finding a Home in Hamlet and the Ghost of the Red Carpet
Discussing her acclaimed performance in Hamlet, Izzard revealed an unexpected sense of ease with the iconic role. "I felt very at home. I thought, 'That's unusual – I should be quaking in my boots!'" she said. Her approach to the famous soliloquies, particularly "To be or not to be," is deliberately fluid. "I come to 'to be' in a slightly different way each night," she explained, crediting her years as a street performer for her direct, audience-inclusive style, which she believes echoes Shakespearean tradition.
When asked about awkward celebrity encounters, Izzard shared an antithetical story involving Brad Pitt. At the Ocean's 13 premiere, a reluctant Pitt "comes shooting through" the red carpet to avoid media and "plopped himself next to me." When called for a group photo, Pitt insisted, "You're coming too!" and dragged Izzard into the shot. "So that was nice," she concluded.
Marathons, Misery and the Death Star Canteen Remix
Izzard's legendary endurance running – she has completed over 100 marathons – was another key topic. She identified two particularly gruelling experiences. The first was a miscalculated route in Northern Ireland where, after conquering a long hill, she realised she had another six miles to run. The second was during her 2016 Sport Relief challenge in South Africa, where she ran 27 marathons in 27 days. After a day in hospital, she made up the distance by running 90km in just under 12 hours. "That was a tough day," she understated.
On her current 'Remix' tour, where she revisits classic routines, Izzard expressed surprise at the longevity of certain sketches. "The Death Star Canteen is the one that has stayed the longest," she said. Her new spin on the routine sees Darth Vader's cafeteria confrontation interrupted by an unlikely guest: author Daphne du Maurier, poised to pen a sequel to The Birds.
Unpopular Opinions and Hidden Talents
Izzard also divulged some of her more niche pop-culture positions, championing George Lazenby's single outing as James Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service as a "beautiful film" with a tragically great ending. She also confessed a hidden proficiency: sword fighting, a skill honed during years performing in Covent Garden and now utilised in Hamlet where she duels against herself.
From stage disasters involving impromptu ghost stories to the surreal experience of eating prop 'snails' made of mushrooms opposite Mads Mikkelsen in Hannibal, Izzard's career anecdotes are as eclectic as her performance style. Her Hamlet continues at the Sydney Opera House until 21 June, then moves to Arts Centre Melbourne from 30 June to 12 July, while her Remix tour runs in Australia from 6 to 16 May.
