When showbiz editor Shelley Spadoni prepared to interview comedy legend Ruby Wax in 2023, she expected to encounter the sharp-tongued, abrasive personality the star was famous for. What she discovered instead was a vulnerable, insightful woman passionate about mental health advocacy.
The Apprehensive Beginning
Spadoni admits she felt genuine apprehension before their telephone conversation two years ago. The interview occurred as Wax prepared for her UK tour of I'm Not As Well As I Thought, which shared its name with her book at the time.
"I had this idea in my head - and how wrong can these preconceived notions be - that she was a brash, at-times rude, if supremely-talented comedian, writer and TV star who if she was having a bad day, would make mincemeat out of me," Spadoni recalls.
Her fears initially seemed justified when she asked about Wax's celebrity encounters, including sharing a plane with Donald Trump in 2000. The response was characteristically direct: "Shelley, I've talked about this many times before - as well as hanging out with Pamela Anderson. What else would you like to know that I haven't said before?"
The Turning Point
The conversation transformed when they began discussing Wax's true passion: mental health campaigning. As they delved into her stage show exploring mental health and her Frazzled Cafe initiative - an online safe space for people to share mental health struggles - the star came alive.
"The more we spoke, the more I realised Ruby just wanted to get to the nitty gritty, the thing that clearly is a huge part of what drives her," Spadoni explains.
During their discussion, Wax revealed a surprising vulnerability, discussing her own mental health battles and the "negative loops" inside her head. With her distinctive throaty laugh, she admitted her inner voice tells her, "I'm old, I'm finished and nobody likes me."
Revealing the Real Ruby
Wax shared how she first learned about mindfulness while being treated in a mental institution following a devastating bout of depression. She encouraged Spadoni to try mindfulness techniques, demonstrating her genuine commitment to helping others with similar struggles.
"Her honesty was disarming," Spadoni notes. "By the time we said goodbye to each other, I was a big fan - and have been, ever since."
Though viewers of I'm A Celebrity might not have seen this reflective side of Wax yet, Spadoni predicts it will emerge. The mother of three possesses deep insight into the human condition that's likely to surface during campfire conversations in the Australian jungle.
As Wax told Spadoni at the end of their revealing conversation: "We're all on different boats Shelley, but believe me, we're in the same storm!" - a sentiment that perfectly captures both her wisdom and her understanding of shared human experience.
