December 21, 2020
Gender Fluid Comic Eddie Izzard Now Using She/Her Pronouns
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
British comedian Eddie Izzard is now using she/her pronouns, announcing she is gender fluid and wants "to be based in girl mode from now on."
The pronouns were introduced to the general public last week with Izzard's appearance on a British cable show called "Portrait Artist of the Year," reports U.K. newspaper The Independent. The show is an annual special in which contestants make drawings of celebrities.
"Speaking about her decision, Izzard told contestant Chris Holder: 'This is the first program I've asked if I can be "she" and "her" – this is a little transition period,'" the Independent article recounted.
"After Holder asked Izzard how it felt to announce her pronouns, she replied: 'Well it feels great, because people just assume that they just know me from before, but I'm gender fluid. I just want to be based in girl mode from now on,'" reports Variety.
Izzard, Variety noted, "has long been a leader in the British LGBTQ+ community and open about her gender fluid identity."
Izzard's announcement regarding pronouns is of a piece with her previous comments regarding her gender identity. "I am essentially transgender," Izzard told the Hollywoord Reporter in 2017. "I have boy mode and girl mode. I do feel I have boy genetics and girl genetics.
Fans took to social media in the wake of the news about Izzard's pronouns to express their delight and support for the comic, media outlets noted.
"It brings me a lot of comfort seeing #EddieIzzard, someone with a traditionally masculine name, use exclusively she/her pronouns," one Twitter user posted, adding: "as someone with a feminine name who's pronouns are they/them, this makes me feel seen," reported NBC News.
Colleagues joined in on the chorus of supportive words.
"I can't tell you what she means to me as a comic," Shappi Khorsandi tweeted. "Rocked my comedy world when I was a teen and beyond. Changed everything, made room. I love her and this morning I'm very happy for her."
LGBTQ equality advocacy organization the Human Rights Campaign offered kudos to Izzard as well, tweeting: "Thanks for allowing us on this adventure with you Eddie, and for encouraging others to live their life openly and authentically."
Izzard has a long and varied resume as an actor, producer, and writer, having appeared in TV and film projects that include small-screen appearances on "Hannibal" and "The Riches," as well as features like "Across the Universe" and "Ocean's Twelve."
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
