Suzy Eddie Izzard has explained that she had known she was transgender for years, but held off on coming out because of her early career success.
The comedy star first publicly came out as transgender in 2020 but now says she has known for decades.
In a recent interview, she explained that she knew she had a different gender identity since she was a child, but didn't have the vocabulary to express it.
Advert
When she found fame from an early age as Eddie Izzard, she decided to ignore her true gender identity and just go with it.
But eventually, she decided she couldn't go on pretending to be someone she wasn't, and bravely came out.
"I knew I was what seems to be trans, but couldn’t define it when I was a young kid," she told Lorraine Kelly this week.
"So I thought well that’s not happening. Then I took off as Eddie and thought, well, it doesn’t matter."
Izzard came out during her appearance on Portrait Artist of the Year back in 2020, announcing at the time: "This is the first programme I've asked if I can be she and her, a little transition period.
Advert
"People just assume, well, know me from before... I'm gender fluid. I just want to be based in girl mode from now on."
Then, earlier this month, she told fans that she'd prefer to go by she/her pronouns and add 'Suzy' to her name.
She assured people that she was still happy to refer to Eddie, but Suzy was who she has 'wanted to be since [she was] ten'.
Speaking about these changes to Lorraine, she said: "So there’s now all this about people don’t know what to say. I prefer Suzy but I don’t mind Eddie. I prefer she/her, but I don’t mind he/him.
Advert
“Nobody can make a mistake with me unless they call me Gregory or Sabrina and then that’s not quite right.
"Everything else, nobody can make a mistake and they can choose."
She told Lorraine that she has already changed her name on her passport from Edward John to Suzy - so there'll be no confusion there, either.
Izzard also spoke about the current discourse surrounding transgender people in the media and online.
Advert
"It's just something we have to go through. We are in the conversation now. And we will get through it," she said defiantly.
"People get very angry on the internet and I just ignore it. I really try to be positive.”
Ali Condon