Eddie Izzard is planning to legally change her name.
The British comedian and activist — who announced in 2020 that she prefers she/her pronouns — made the revelation on the “Political Party” podcast Tuesday.
“There’s another name I’m going to add in as well, which is Suzy, which I’ve wanted to be since I was 10,” Izzard said about an hour and eight minutes into the episode. “So, I’m going to be Suzy Eddie Izzard. That’s how I’m going to roll, so people can choose what they want. They can’t make a mistake, they can’t go wrong with me.”
Advertisement
Izzard also said that she will likely continue to use Eddie Izzard publicly as a comedian, but also admitted that “things move with time, so I don’t know.”
Izzard explained that when she was a child, she always identified with the name Suzy, but figured, “no, this is not going to happen.”
“And then ‘Eddie’ became this name,” Izzard said, referring to her famous name. “And I thought, ‘Well, you can’t redo that.’”
Advertisement
But Izzard began to rethink her name after she publicly announced her pronoun change.
“If I’m doing she/her, why don’t I add [Suzy] to the name?” Izzard said. “Because I have Edward on my passport, Edward is quite wooden and big, and I don’t call myself that. ... So I just thought I’ll add Suzy there, then Eddie, and people can choose what they want, and no one can go wrong. That’s kind of fun.”
Izzard announced the name change while discussing her decision to change her pronouns, admitting that she makes “mistakes with my own pronouns” and felt indifferent toward them. That was until 2019, when she was given an honorary degree by the U.K.’s Swansea University. Izzard explained on the podcast that a “wonderful chancellor” gave a speech about her receiving the degree and used she/her pronouns, and it really resonated with the “Ocean’s Twelve” and “Ocean’s Thirteen” actor.
Izzard told the chancellor afterward that her use of she/her pronouns “hit some positivity on me, it just felt amazing.”
Advertisement
Izzard then opted for she/her pronouns in December 2020, when Sky Arts’ did a segment on her for “Portrait Artist of the Year,” and introduced the new pronouns, calling it “a little transition period.”
Izzard added to Sky Arts that “it feels great because people just assume that they just know me from before ... but I’m gender fluid. I just want to be based in girl mode from now on.”
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.