Eddie Izzard has opened up about her approach to performing Hamlet, her favourite James Bond film, and the toughest marathon she has ever run. The comedian and actor, currently touring with her Remix show, spoke about revisiting classic routines and the physical demands of her career.
On playing Hamlet, Izzard said she felt surprisingly at ease during rehearsals, despite the weight of the iconic role. She explained that she delivers the line 'To be or not to be' differently each night, drawing on her street-performing background to engage the audience directly. 'Actors got into this fourth-wall thing in the 1800s, it wasn’t there in Elizabethan times,' she noted, adding that she treats the audience as part of Hamlet’s brain.
Izzard named On Her Majesty’s Secret Service as her favourite Bond film, praising George Lazenby’s performance. 'Telly Savalas and Diana Rigg did a great job, and the whole bloody thing is great,' she said. 'It’s the first one I ever saw, with my brother on a school trip, and I loved it.'
Reflecting on her Remix tour, Izzard said she has updated classic routines like the Death Star canteen sketch, now featuring Daphne du Maurier. She also discussed the enduring appeal of her 'Evil Giraffe' bit, which she described as 'weird' and 'fun.'
Izzard, who has run over 100 marathons, recalled her toughest challenge: a double marathon in South Africa where she ran 90km in under 12 hours after a day in hospital. 'That was a tough day,' she said. She also warned against treadmill marathons, saying 'there’s nothing to look at.'
