Eddie Izzard has now revealed her new name, which she will use alongside her former name.
The comedian, 61, has been out as transgender since 1985, but she made the public decision to start living in “girl mode” in December 2020.
Since then, she has claimed that ever since she was 10 years old, she has wanted to go by the name “Suzy”.
She revealed the information during a recent appearance on Monday’s episode of Matt Forde’s Political Party podcast on 6 March.
“I’m Eddie. There’s another name I’m going to add in as well, which is Suzy, which is what I wanted to be since I was 10,” she said. “I’m going to be Suzy Eddie Izzard.”
Izzard went on to say people “can’t go wrong” in choosing the name they prefer to address her by.
“That’s how I’m going to roll, so people can choose what they want,” she said. “They can’t make a mistake. They can’t go wrong.”
“It’s just a language adjustment,” she added. “And no one should get het up about it.”
She continued: “I’m still gender fluid and I tell everyone that’s supported me, ‘Relax people, he or she, it doesn’t really matter.’
“The pronoun thing isn’t the important thing, the important thing was coming out [as trans] back in 1985, that was the tough time.”
This all comes a few years after Izzard featured on Portrait Artist of the Year, where she was addressed as “she” and “her” by the show’s host Stephen Mangan and other contenders.
Speaking about her pronoun change, she said, “This is the first programme I’ve asked if I can be ‘she’ and ‘her’ – this is a little transition period.”
“People just assume, well, know me from before… I’m gender fluid. I just want to be based in girl mode from now on.”
At the time, Izzard revealed that “it feels very positive”. She continued: “I just want to be based in girl mode now.”
After her announcement, dozens of fans took to social media to share their thoughts, with one writing: “I love how Suzy Eddie is going with the flow & not getting their knickers in a twist over whether they’re referred to as she or he. I think they’re a damned decent human and a great actor/comedian however they choose to live.”
While another commented: “I love that Suzy Eddie has left it open to people to use their own discretion on how to refer to her/him instead of laying out a blueprint, which is a stumbling block if people make a mistake when referencing said person.”
“I saw Izzard’s stand up a while back and thought he was brilliant. Seeing this, just opened up a whole other door of respect. He’s gonna do what makes him comfortable but doesn’t expect everyone else around him to be UNcomforable. This is amazing,” a third wrote.
Another added: “What an excellent way of looking at it! I do admit to slipping up at times referring to the correct name or he/she at times with people I know, it’s an unconscious habit, especially if they’ve moved it over since I’ve known them. Good on her!”
