Eddie Izzard didn’t intentionally plan to change pronouns but is ‘honoured’ to be called she/her-Sabrina Barr-Entertainment – Metro

Eddie was asked about her pronouns while on Portrait Artist of the Year (Picture: Chris Lobina/Sky TV)

Eddie Izzard has opened up on the moment her pronouns ‘changed’ to ‘she/her’, explaining that while it wasn’t deliberate on her part, she regards it as ‘a ‘great honour’.

In December 2020, the actor and comedian appeared on the Sky Arts programme Portrait Artist of the Year to have her portrait painted by a group of artists.

During the episode, she requested that she be referred to by the pronouns ‘she/her’ after being asked for her preference, sparking high praise from viewers, as she said at the time: ‘This is the first programme I’ve asked if I can be she and her, a little transition period.’

In a new interview on the My Seven Wonders with Clive Anderson podcast, Eddie explained that she identifies as ‘gender fluid’, and is ‘now based as a trans woman’.

Speaking about the aftermath of her Portrait Artist of the Year episode airing, the Ocean’s Twelve star said: ‘My pronouns… I didn’t change my pronouns. I was thinking of changing them.’

The 60-year-old recollected how she was asked what pronouns she would prefer during filming as casually as if she’d been asked for her coffee order.

Eddie says it’s a ‘great honour’ to be ‘promoted to she’ (Picture: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)

‘I went on a programme called Portrait Artist of the Year, Sky Arts, very nice, go on there,’ she said.

‘Some young artists painting me, they ask me, like a coffee thing, they said, she/her or he/him? I was wearing a dress and I’m based as a trans woman now, so she/her, I’ll have a latte – it was that kind of lack of stress.’

Eddie said that after the episode aired a year and a half ago, ‘in two days in America and Britain where I’m best known, all my pronouns were changed’.

‘Which is fantastic, a great honour. I’ve been promoted to she, I see it as a great honour,’ she continued.

The frequent marathon runner says she feels ‘relaxed’ about her pronouns (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

‘But I prefer she/her, don’t mind he/him, and I’m going to be relaxed about it. It’s not the time for fighting each other on this.

‘The extreme right wing, I’m happy to fight them, because they get up in the morning with hatred, and they push hatred. All the problems in the world seem to start with the extreme right. Even plumbing.’

In the same podcast interview, Eddie shed further light on her political ambitions as she strives to become an MP, comparing herself to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who was formerly a comedian.

‘I’m pushing to be an MP. I was pushing to be an MP in the last General Election, and I’m hoping to be an MP in the next General Election,’ the MP-hopeful said.

‘I will try very hard to get there and hope the people of the constituency I’m going for will elect me. So I’m very serious about it. I’ve said it since 2010, quite categorically.’

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : Demi Lovato adopts she/her pronouns after coming out as non-binary: ‘It’s just all about respect’

MORE : Rapper Lil Uzi Vert quietly updates pronouns to they/them

Entertainment – MetroRead More