Eddie Izzard: Gender Identity, Name Change, and Career Facts

Eddie Izzard has spent decades defying easy labels, both on stage and off. When she publicly came out as transgender in December 2020, it was a milestone in a journey that began long before — as early as age four or five, she later recalled. This explainer covers her gender identity, why she now uses the name Suzy, and her views on trans rights, grounded in verified statements from interviews and official sources.

Full legal name: Edward John Izzard ·
Date of birth: 7 February 1962 ·
Nationality: British ·
Profession: Comedian, actress, activist, writer ·
Pronouns: She/her (preferred), also comfortable with they/them ·
Notable work: Ocean’s Thirteen, The Riches, Hamlet World Tour

Six key facts about Eddie Izzard, drawn from authoritative sources:

What is Eddie Izzard’s gender?

How does Eddie Izzard identify?

• Eddie Izzard identifies as genderqueer and transgender. Encyclopaedia Britannica (authoritative reference work) describes her as “gender-fluid and trans.”
• In a 2016 interview, she said, “I am a transgender guy.” Freedom From Religion Foundation (freethought advocacy group)
• She has used the term “transvestite” in the past, but now prefers transgender/genderqueer.

What pronouns does Eddie Izzard use?

• She uses she/her pronouns and is also comfortable with they/them. Reuters (global news agency) reported in 2020 that she wanted to be addressed with “she/her.”
• Eddie Izzard has stated: “I’m a trans woman. I’m a woman. I’m a transgender woman.”

The pattern: her gender vocabulary has shifted from transvestite to transgender woman, mirroring broader societal understanding.

When did Eddie Izzard come out?

Timeline of Eddie Izzard’s gender identity journey

• 1962: Born in Aden, Yemen. (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• 1980s: Began performing stand-up comedy in London. She came out publicly in the mid-1980s using the term “transvestite.” (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• 1990s: Rise to fame with surreal stand-up; openly wore women’s clothing. (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• 2000s: Acted in movies (Ocean’s Thirteen, The Riches); described as gender-fluid. (Bay Area Reporter)
• 20 December 2020: Publicly came out as transgender during a Sky Arts appearance. (Evening Standard)
• 2023: Announced use of name Suzy, completed first marathon under new identity. (USA Today)

Key milestones: 1980s to 2020s

• Izzard has said she realized she was different by about age 4 or 5, but lacked the vocabulary to describe it. (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• An Ebar profile notes that she came out as transgender in 1985, gender-fluid in 2019, chose she/her pronouns in 2020, and added Suzy in 2023. (Bay Area Reporter (LGBTQ+ news outlet))

The implication: each label shift reflects a more precise vocabulary for an identity that was always there.

Why is Eddie Izzard now Suzy?

What is the significance of the name Suzy?

• In March 2023, Izzard said she would add Suzy to her name and be known as Suzy Eddie Izzard. (USA Today)
• She has explained that Suzy is a name she wanted to be called since age 10. (The Independent)
• She still uses Eddie Izzard professionally and legally. (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• BBC America reported that she would alternate between Eddie and Suzy and was happy to be addressed by either name. (BBC America)

The pattern: she holds onto her established public name while claiming a private name that feels truer to herself.

What did Eddie Izzard say about JK Rowling?

Eddie Izzard’s public statements on trans rights and Rowling

• Eddie Izzard has criticized JK Rowling’s trans-exclusionary views. In a 2021 interview with The Times (UK newspaper), she stated: “Trans women are women.”
• She called for respectful dialogue, saying: “We need to have conversations, not confrontations.”
• Izzard’s stance aligns with her broader activism for transgender rights.

The catch: her willingness to engage directly with Rowling signals that she sees public debate as part of activism.

Where does Eddie Izzard live?

Current residence of Eddie Izzard

• Eddie Izzard currently lives in London, United Kingdom. (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• She previously lived in New York City for several years.

What this means: her residency is a practical anchor for a career that spans continents.

Eddie Izzard’s journey from a comedian who wore women’s clothes on stage to a transgender woman who publicly uses the name Suzy is a story of gradual self-discovery. For readers trying to understand her identity, the key takeaway is that she is a transgender woman who uses she/her pronouns, and Suzy is a personal nickname, not a professional rebrand. The implication for the public: her legacy as a groundbreaking comedian now includes being a visible trans advocate, and her words carry weight in the ongoing debate over trans rights.