Ruby Wax Challenges Mental Health Stigma in Britain
Ruby Wax, the renowned comedian and mental health campaigner, has firmly rejected calls for Britain to adopt a tougher stance on mental health conditions. The 72-year-old television personality, known for her candid discussions about her own struggles, insists that the country's approach is largely appropriate and should not emulate what she describes as the "cruelty" of American attitudes.
A Personal Journey with Bipolar Disorder
Wax has long been open about her experiences with bipolar disorder and depression, having been diagnosed in 1993 at the age of 40 while pregnant with her third child. She emphasizes the seriousness of these conditions, stating, "No, you can't fake bipolar any more than you can fake cancer." Her comments come in response to warnings from government work tsar Alan Milburn, who late last year cautioned about a 'lost generation' being signed off work for 'normal' mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
Wax questions where responsibility lies when adequate psychiatric support is lacking, asking, "And if the government can't provide enough psychiatrists to properly test for depression and anxiety, whose fault is that?" She maintains that Britain generally "gets it about right" in its approach to mental health, contrasting this with systems she views as less compassionate.
From Jungle to Stage: Wax's Continuing Career
The I'm A Celebrity star, who was the fifth contestant voted out of the jungle in December following a vote-off against fellow campmate Lisa Riley, continues to engage audiences with her unique brand of humor. Her upcoming show promises to deliver the provocative, hilariously abrasive style that has become her trademark.
Wax will be joined by lifelong friend and A-list producer Clive Tulloh for a tour that begins in Henley-on-Thames on March 25 and concludes its spring leg in Bristol on July 7. The show will feature clips from their collaborative projects, previously unheard scandalous stories, and interactive audience engagement. Wax humorously noted about her jungle experience, "It's Ruby here - yes, broadcasting live from the jungle, where the Wi-Fi is powered by mosquitoes and my only beauty routine is 'don't get eaten.'"
A Marriage Built on Unconventional Foundations
Beyond her professional life, Wax has maintained a 33-year marriage to husband Edward Richard Morrison Bye, whom she describes as having an "unconventional" relationship. The outspoken Chicago-born comic married the quietly-spoken, British public school-educated Ed in 1988 after meeting in 1985 during her work on Girls On Top with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders.
The couple has three children together: Max, 37, Madeleine, 35, and Marina, 32. Wax credits the success of their marriage to spending substantial time apart, writing in The Sydney Morning Herald earlier this year, "When I met Ed Bye in 1988, I wasn't expecting to find my happy-ever-after." She revealed she proposed to him by saying, "I asked Ed if he wanted to marry me, told him I had an opening in my calendar, and gave him a date. I said many men were after me, but I was lying."
Wax maintains that having personal space is "healthy for relationships," a philosophy that has sustained her marriage through decades of public life and personal challenges. Her continued advocacy for mental health awareness, combined with her successful career and personal life, demonstrates her belief in balancing openness about mental health with personal resilience and professional achievement.
