Get ready for an epic journey through the mind of Eddie Izzard, the legendary comedian and actor! In this exclusive interview, we delve into her unique perspectives on art, pop culture, and even her secret talents.
The Comfort of Hamlet
When Eddie Izzard took on the iconic role of Hamlet, she found an unexpected sense of ease. "I felt right at home," she says. But here's where it gets intriguing: the famous "To be or not to be" soliloquy presented a challenge. "Each night, I approach it differently," Izzard reveals, ensuring a fresh experience for the audience. Her street performance background gives her an edge, as she engages the audience directly, breaking the fourth wall and involving them in the performance, just as Shakespeare intended.
A Bonding Experience
Now, here's a controversial take: Izzard defends George Lazenby's performance as James Bond in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." She argues that the film, with its stellar cast including Telly Savalas and Diana Rigg, is a masterpiece. "It's a beautiful film," she insists, despite Lazenby's limited Bond tenure.
The Remix Tour
On her Remix tour, Izzard revisits her beloved stand-up routines with a fresh twist. One routine that has stood the test of time is "The Death Star Canteen." In a creative spin, she imagines Darth Vader celebrating his victory, only to be confronted by a persistent cafeteria worker demanding he use a tray. "Everyone knows that routine now," she says, adding a twist by bringing in Daphne du Maurier for a sequel to "The Birds."
The Evil Giraffe Enigma
Izzard's "Evil Giraffe" routine is a personal favorite. "Could you get an evil giraffe?" she asks, imagining a giraffe with a pencil-thin mustache. It's a bizarre concept that has captivated audiences.
The Marathon Challenge
Eddie Izzard is no stranger to endurance, having run over 100 marathons. The toughest? Running on a treadmill, she says, is a monotonous challenge. But the real grueling experience was in Northern Ireland, where she realized she had miscalculated and had six more miles to go after reaching the top of a hill. "When you think you've finished, six miles becomes really gruelling," she explains.
A Secret Talent
Here's a surprise: Izzard is a skilled sword fighter! In Hamlet, she has a sword fight against herself, but few know about her expertise, honed during her time as a sword fighter in Covent Garden.
Fashionable Memories
Many of Izzard's iconic outfits are now in storage, including some Gaultier pieces. One memorable coat from "Definite Article" had a button fall off during a performance, leading to a funny moment when a sewing kit was thrown onto the stage. Izzard decided to sew the button back on in real time, a unique addition to her show.
Onstage Disasters
Izzard has had her fair share of onstage mishaps. Once, the theatre flooded, leaving her with just one light on stage. She turned it into a ghost story session, a creative way to navigate the disaster. Another time in South Africa, the lights went crazy, and she used her phone light to continue the show, another example of her quick thinking.
The Hannibal Experience
In the TV series Hannibal, Izzard's character, Abel Gideon, has a gruesome scene where he eats snails that have been feeding on his severed body parts. In reality, she was eating mushrooms made to look like snails. "It was a very scary show, but making it was not scary," she says, adding a twist to the story by mentioning the Toronto mayor's crack cocaine scandal that was unfolding at the time.
A Star-Studded Encounter
One of Izzard's most memorable celebrity encounters was with Brad Pitt at the Ocean's 13 premiere. Despite her small role in the film, Pitt chose to stand next to her, and even dragged her into a group photo, making for a memorable moment.
A Political Nemesis?
Izzard admits to not aligning with Margaret Thatcher's politics, and her career rise coincided with Thatcher's political decline. "Her politics were not mine; she wasn't into people," Izzard observes.
Catch Eddie Izzard's Hamlet at the Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre Melbourne this summer, and her Remix tour across Australia in May.
