Eddie Izzard says she will remain 'Eddie Izzard' in public but people can also use her 'feminine' name

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By Phoebe Egoroff

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Eddie Izzard has announced that she will remain 'Eddie' in public, but that people are also able to use her 'feminine' name as well.

The 61-year-old British comedian took to social media on Thursday (June 1) to reveal that, while her name is still publicly Eddie, she also encourages people to use her feminine name, Suzy.

She also wrote that she prefers she/her pronouns, but also doesn't mind if she's referred to as he/him.

"As people may now well know, I have added the name 'Suzy' to my names," she wrote on Twitter. "So going forward I am preferring Suzy but I don't mind Eddie. And I prefer she/her but I don't mind he/him. So no one can really get it wrong unless they call me Kenneth or Sabrina.

"I am remaining Eddie Izzard in public. Thank you. Suzy/Eddie."

The post was immediately met with support from fans, with one person writing: "As long as you remain talented, people will keep calling you, whatever name you choose. Appreciate the clarification, though. Onward to the next gig."

Another added: "THIS is how it should be. You have your preference but [you're] ok with people addressing you how they always have. Thank you for hopefully setting a trend Suzy [...] huge thumbs up from me."

"I'll just keep calling you awesome.. can't get it wrong ever :)" someone else chimed in.

A further tweet read: "Whatever you go by, you're great! Love you!

Izzard has been open about her gender transition, and announced her new name earlier this year at a recording of The Political Party podcast with host Matt Forde. "I prefer to see she/her, I don't mind he/him … I'm Eddie," she said. "There's another name I'm going to add in as well, which is Suzy, which I wanted to be since I was 10. I'm going to be Suzy Eddie Izzard."

In 2017, Izzard spoke about her trans identity to The Hollywood Reporter, telling the outlet: "If you are coming out as transgender or gay or lesbian, it's such a tough rite of passage and quest.

"It assaults your senses because, back in '85, everyone said, 'No, no. Hide about it.' I just thought they were all wrong. The humiliation period, the initial period, is so tough. If you keep at it, it gets better."

The actor - who has appeared in movies like Ocean's Twelve and Thirteen - also spoke about whether cisgender actors should take on transgender movie roles.

"I am essentially transgender. I have boy mode and girl mode. I do feel I have boy genetics and girl genetics. I have played one transgender character. I will play hopefully more transgender roles in the future, but there are a lot of boy genetics in me so I am happy to play boy roles," she said.

Featured image credit: Arturo Holmes