Eddie Izzard praises transgender stars Caitlyn Jenner and Laverne Cox: 'They made it easier for me'

3 January 2021

Eddie Izzard has praised Caitlyn Jenner and Laverne Cox for helping to end “toxic” transphobia.

Eddie Izzard

The comedian - who is gender fluid - recently revealed she is happy for people to use she/her pronouns when referring to her, and has now said she feels more comfortable talking about her gender identity now, thanks to the work done by transgender stars including Caitlyn and Laverne in ending the stigma surrounding transgender and non-binary people.

Speaking on the ‘RunPod’ podcast, Eddie said: “It was toxic back in '85. It was toxic in the Nineties. Being transgender was never cool. 

“The tipping point was when a number of things happened in America - from Vanity Fair for Caitlyn Jenner to Laverne Cox getting Woman Of The Year [from Glamour magazine]. America is such an engine. When things happen there, it pushes it out around the world. It's made it easier for me.”

The comments come after Eddie, 58, spoke about having a “girl mode” during an appearance on TV show 'Portrait Artist of the Year’.

She said on the show: "Well, I try to do things that I think are interesting, and this is the first programme I've asked if I can be she and her. The transition period.

“It feels great, because people just assume that ... well, they just know me from before. I'm gender fluid.

"I just want to be based in girl mode from now on.

"One life, live it well.”

The 'Victoria & Abdul' star later opened up about the decision in a separate interview, where she said she still prefers to be called Eddie as "that covers everything”.

She said: "I didn’t push for it [on the programme]. This isn’t the big thing. I’ve been out for 35 years. When I was called ‘she’ on getting my honorary degree at Swansea [in 2019], no one gave a monkey’s. Why didn’t anyone pick up on it before? It’s whatever people want – if they call me she and her, that’s great – or he and him, I don’t mind. I prefer to be called Eddie, that covers everything.

"I’m gender fluid. Your brain gets coded male or female when you’re young. Mine got coded both ways. I have the gift of both, although it doesn’t feel like a gift at first."