Editing Ruby Wax

{{Short description|British-American comedian (born 1953)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix   = 
| name               = Ruby Wax
| honorific_suffix   = {{postnom|country=GBR|size=100|OBEh}}
| image              = Ruby Wax in 2016 (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Wax at the 2016 [[Hay Festival]]
| birth_name         = Ruby Wachs
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1953|4|19}}
| birth_place        = [[Evanston, Illinois]], U.S.
| citizenship        = {{hlist|United States|United Kingdom}}
| education          = [[University of California, Berkeley]]<br>[[Royal Conservatoire of Scotland|Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Regent's University London|Regent's College]] ([[Postgraduate diploma|PgDip]])<br>[[Kellogg College, Oxford]] ([[Master of Studies|MSt]])
| occupation         = {{hlist|Actress|comedian|writer|television presenter|mental health campaigner}}
| years_active       = 1970–present
| spouse             = {{ubl
  | {{marriage|Andrew Porter|1976|1980|end=div}}
  | {{marriage|Trevor Walton|1981|end=div}}
  | {{marriage|[[Ed Bye]]|1988}}}}
| children           = 3
| website            = {{url|rubywax.net}}
}}

'''Ruby Wax''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE||size=100%}} ({{nee|'''Wachs'''}};<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2002/dec/14/weekend7.weekend1 |title=Q&A: Comedian Ruby Wax |last=Greenstreet |first=Rosanna |date=14 December 2002 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=14 June 2010 |location=London}}</ref> born 19 April 1953)<ref>{{cite book |title=Who's Who|date=December 2009|publisher=A & C Black|location=Oxford, England|title-link=Who's Who}}</ref> is an [[Americans in the United Kingdom|American-British]] actress, comedian, writer, television presenter, and mental health campaigner. A classically-trained actress, Wax co-starred on the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] sitcom ''[[Girls on Top (British TV series)|Girls on Top]]'' (1985–1986), and came to prominence as a comic interviewer, playing up to British perceptions of the strident American style on television shows including ''The Full Wax'' (1991–1994), ''Ruby Wax Meets...'' (1994–1998), ''[[Ruby (talk show)|Ruby]]'' (1997–2000), and ''The Ruby Wax Show'' (2002).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ruby Wax OBE - Honorary Graduate - Staffordshire University |url=https://www.staffs.ac.uk/about/honorary-graduates/ruby-wax-obe |access-date=2022-03-16 |website=www.staffs.ac.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 September 2019 |title=Ruby Wax OBE |url=https://speakerideas.com/speaker/ruby-wax/ |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=Speaker Ideas |language=en-GB}}</ref> She was a script editor for the [[BBC]] sitcom ''[[Absolutely Fabulous]]'' (1992–2012), also appearing in two episodes.

Wax holds both American and British citizenship and has resided in the [[United Kingdom]] since the 1970s.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Fulton |first=Rick |date=2011-07-22 |title=TV star Ruby Wax on why she never wants to return to 'favourite city' Glasgow |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/tv-radio/tv-star-ruby-wax-on-why-she-never-1108663 |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Daily Record |language=en}}</ref> In 2013, she gained a [[master's degree]] in [[Mindfulness (psychology)|mindfulness]]-based cognitive therapy from [[Kellogg College, Oxford]].  In 2015, she was appointed a Visiting Professor in Mental Health Nursing at the [[University of Surrey]]. Wax was appointed an [[Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the [[2015 Special Honours]] for services to mental health. Her memoirs ''How Do You Want Me?'' (2002) and ''Sane New World'' (2013) both reached number one on the [[The Sunday Times|''Sunday Times'']] bestseller list.

==Early life==
Wax was born Ruby Wachs and raised in [[Evanston, Illinois]], the daughter of Edward and Berthe Wachs (''née'' Goldmann). Her parents were [[History of the Jews in Austria|Austrian Jews]] who left [[Vienna]] in 1938 because of the [[Nazism|Nazi]] threat.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ruby Wax: "I've spent a lifetime giving the illusion all is well. It wasn't and it isn't" |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/may/07/ruby-wax-not-as-well-as-i-thought-i-was-depression-interview-cast-away |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=25 October 2023 |date=7 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/desertislanddiscs_20050626.shtml |title=Desert Island Discs - Ruby Wax |website=[[BBC Radio 4]] |date=26 June 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/may/26/ruby-wax-the-kids-didnt-know-i-had-depression-until-they-were-older-my-husband-covered-for-me |title=Ruby Wax: 'The kids didn't know I had depression until they were older. My husband covered for me' |first=Nikki |last=Spencer |date=26 May 2017 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=7 October 2017}}</ref> Her father was a sausage manufacturer<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/03/28/1017206134483.html |title=Ruby waxes lyrical about life |first=Simon |last=Hattenstone |date=29 March 2002 |newspaper=[[The Age]] |location=Melbourne |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref> and her mother qualified as an accountant. Once settled in [[Chicago]], her father [[Anglicisation of names#German surnames|changed the spelling of the family surname]] from Wachs to Wax.<ref name="wdytyam">{{cite web|url=https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/episode/ruby-wax/|title=Ruby Wax|publisher=Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine|access-date=2 December 2021}}</ref>

Wax majored in [[psychology]] at the [[University of California, Berkeley]], leaving after a year without completing her degree.<ref name=personally>{{cite web |url=http://www.personallyspeakingbureau.com/speaker/ruby-wax/ |title=Ruby Wax |website=Personally Speaking Bureau |access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{ Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/jul/17/ruby-wax-depression-interview |title=Ruby Wax: 'I think I became a cartoon to escape how ill I was'|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=24 October 2017|date=2011-07-16|last1=Day|first1=Elizabeth}}</ref>

==Career==
[[File:Ruby Wax.jpg|thumb|upright|Wax at the 2007 [[BAFTA]] awards]]

===Early career===
Wax moved to the UK and studied at the [[Royal Conservatoire of Scotland|Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama]] in [[Glasgow]]. She started her acting career as a straight actress at the [[Crucible Theatre]], [[Sheffield]], where she began a long-standing writing and directing partnership with [[Alan Rickman]], who later directed many of her stage comedy shows.<ref name="ST" />

In 1978, she joined the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]], working alongside [[Juliet Stevenson]] in ''[[Measure for Measure]]'', as Jaquenetta opposite [[Michael Hordern]] in ''[[Love's Labours Lost]]'', replacing [[Zoë Wanamaker]] as Jane in ''[[The Way of the World]]''<ref name = ST>{{cite book | last=Trowbridge | first=Simon | title=Stratfordians, a dictionary of the RSC | chapter= Ruby Wax | publisher=Editions Albert Creed | location=Oxford, England | year=2008 | page=509 | isbn=978-0-9559830-1-6}}</ref> and appearing in the [[Howard Brenton]] three-hander ''Sore Throats''.<ref>{{cite book |first=Howard |last=Brenton |title=Plays One |publisher=[[Methuen Publishing|Methuen]] |year=1986 |isbn=978-0-413-40430-5}}</ref> While at the RSC, Wax also met and befriended [[Ian Charleson]], and later contributed a chapter to the 1990 book, ''For Ian Charleson: A Tribute''.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Ian |last1=McKellen |first2=David |last2=Puttnam |first3=Ruby |last3=Wax |first4=Vanessa |last4=Redgrave |first5=Alan |last5=Bates |display-authors=3 |isbn=0094702500 |title=For Ian Charleson: A Tribute |location=London |publisher=Constable and Company |year=1990 |pages=55–61}}</ref> In 1981, Wax appeared as an American track fan in Charleson's breakthrough film, ''[[Chariots of Fire]]''.<ref>Hugh Hudson Commentary on ''[[Chariots of Fire]]'' DVD, Warner Bros. media.</ref> She originally had a much larger role in the film, but it was cut down in editing.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-10-27 |title=Ruby Wax |url=https://metro.co.uk/2009/10/27/ruby-wax-2-636390/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Metro |language=en |quote="I was cut out but it wasn’t my fault. I played the girlfriend to the whole American running team. There was a scene where I snuck into their dorm. But that hit the floor because my friend was playing Ian Charleson’s girlfriend and they didn’t think her acting was great (though they told her it was because she didn’t shave her armpits). So both our careers ended. We went down like kingpins."}}</ref>

Wax made a one-off appearance in a 1980 episode of ''[[The Professionals (TV series)|The Professionals]]'', ''Bloodsports'', playing Lonnie, an American student. In 1981, she appeared in the follow-up to ''[[The Rocky Horror Picture Show]]'', called ''[[Shock Treatment]]''. In the film, Wax portrays Betty Hapschatt, who married Ralph Hapschatt in the first film. The same year, she Wax also appeared briefly as a secretary in ''[[Omen III: The Final Conflict]]''.

===Comedy work===
In 1985, she starred as loud-mouthed American actress Shelley DuPont on the British sitcom ''[[Girls on Top (British TV series)|Girls on Top]]''.

In 1987, Wax was given her own comedy chat show, ''Don't Miss Wax'', on [[Channel 4]]. She was also hired as a radio presenter by [[the Superstation]], an overnight sustaining service for commercial radio in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usp-group.com/record.jsp?type=teamMember&ID=5 |title=Team Member |website=Usp-group.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221164351/http://www.usp-group.com/record.jsp?type=teamMember&ID=5 |archive-date=21 February 2009}}</ref> In December 1989, she appeared in the ''[[Red Dwarf]]'' episode "[[Timeslides]]" as the television host Blaize Falconberger of the fictional show "''Lifestyles of the Disgustingly Rich and Famous"''.<ref>{{Citation|last=Bye|first=Ed|title=Timeslides|date=1989-12-12|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0684185/|type=Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi|others=Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules, Hattie Hayridge|access-date=2021-03-19}}</ref>

Wax began working with the [[BBC]] in 1991, with the show ''The Full Wax'' (1991–94). In 1994, ''Ruby Wax Meets Madonna'' aired on the [[BBC]], followed by the series ''Ruby Wax Meets...'' (1996–98), in which she interviewed public figures such as [[Imelda Marcos]], [[O. J. Simpson]], and [[Pamela Anderson]].<ref name=IMDB>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115340/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast |title= Ruby Wax Meets... (1996– ): Full Cast & Crew |website=[[Internet Movie Database|IMDb]]}}</ref> ''Ruby Wax Meets...'' was nominated for a 1997 [[BAFTA Award]] (credited to Clive Tulloh and Don Boyd), for an interview with [[Sarah, Duchess of York]], an interview which attracted over 14 million viewers.<ref name="LEStandard">{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/i-thought-you-could-have-it-all-7245967.html |title=I thought you could have it all |first=Emine |last=Saner |date=13 February 2006 |newspaper=[[Evening Standard]] |location=London |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref> She also made two guest appearances in ''[[Absolutely Fabulous]]'', a programme on which she served as script editor throughout the run of the series.<ref name="personally"/>

From November 2001 to June 2002, Wax presented a TV quiz show on [[BBC One]], ''[[The Waiting Game (game show)|The Waiting Game]]''.<ref name=IMDB/> Her final BBC interview series aired in 2003. In 2005 Wax appeared as a cleaner in the music video to [[McFly]]'s Comic Relief song ''[[All About You/You've Got a Friend|All About You]]''.

===Writing, academia, corporate training and returns to television and stage===
In 2002, Wax became the host of ''[[Commercial Breakdown]]''. In that year, Wax published her memoir ''How Do You Want Me?'', which topped ''The Sunday Times'' best-seller list.

In March 2003, Wax was one of the celebrity contestants on ''[[Comic Relief does Fame Academy]]'', a spin-off from the [[BBC]]'s ''[[Fame Academy]]'', with all proceeds donated to ''[[Comic Relief (charity)|Comic Relief]]''. Although not a good singer, Wax made it to the final, taking runner-up position to [[Will Mellor]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/tv_film/newsid_2852000/2852107.stm |title=Will beats Ruby in Celeb Fame Academy |date=14 March 2003 |website=[[CBBC Newsround]]}}</ref>

In 2004, the BBC planned to show the cartoon series ''[[Popetown]]'', poking fun at the [[Catholic Church]]. Wax portrayed the [[Pope]] as a spoiled child. After protests, the BBC did not broadcast the show.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/sep/24/bbc.broadcasting?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487 |title=BBC drops controversial Pope cartoon |first=Stephen |last=Bates |newspaper=The Guardian |date=24 September 2004}}</ref>

In February 2004, Irish broadcaster Patricia Danaher reached an out-of-court settlement with Wax, who had falsely claimed Danaher had made "racist" and "anti-Semitic" remarks about her in an interview for [[Ulster Television]]. Wax's legal team apologised in court, accepted Danaher had made no racist or anti-Semitic statements, and announced there had been a financial settlement.<ref>{{cite journal |date=13 February 2004 |title=Ruby Wax apology over 'racist' claims |journal=[[The Stage]] |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2004/ruby-wax-apology-over-racist-claims/ |access-date=16 December 2008}}</ref>

In November 2005, Wax was criticised by the ''[[Daily Mail]]'' columnist Richard Kay for allegedly opposing a proposed disabled-access ramp for the [[Couper Collection]] charitable art gallery. The UK Sunday newspaper ''[[The Observer]]'' also reported the controversy.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1664656,00.html |title=It's Wax versus Max in battle of the art barges |first=Alice |last=O'Keeffe |date=11 December 2005 |newspaper=[[The Observer]]}}</ref> In 2006, Wax responded to the claims in the London ''[[Evening Standard]]'': "Oh no, that's not true. That's so off the wall. Why would I object to a disabled ramp? It wasn't even about that."<ref name="LEStandard"/>

Wax appeared in a supporting role opposite [[Olivia Williams]] and [[Andie MacDowell]] in the 2005 film ''[[Tara Road (film)|Tara Road]]''. In September and October 2005, she appeared as a celebrity contestant in ''[[Gameshow Marathon (UK game show)|Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon]]'', progressing through to ''[[Sale of the Century]]'' before getting knocked out. In summer 2006, she was a celebrity [[showjumper]] in the BBC's [[Sport Relief]] event ''Only Fools on Horses''. She presented ''[[Cirque de Celebrité]]'' on Sky One in 2006. Wax also appeared in an episode of [[Jackass (TV series)|''Jackass'']], participating in the [[Gumball 3000]]. While the race was stopped at the Latvian border she was wrestled by ''Jackass'' personality [[Chris Pontius]].

In March 2009, Wax returned to Comic Relief to take part in ''[[Comic Relief Does The Apprentice]]''. Wax appeared in the 2011 Comic Relief in ''Comic Relief Does Masterchef'' in which Wax prepared an appetiser for then Prime Minister [[David Cameron]].

On 1 April 2009, ''Ruby Wax Goes Dutch'' premiered on Dutch television network [[NET 5]].{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}

She was appointed Chancellor of the [[University of Southampton]], commencing duties on 1 May 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2019/04/new-chancellor-appointment.page|title=Ruby Wax appointed Chancellor of the University of Southampton - University of Southampton|website=www.southampton.ac.uk}}</ref>

Wax teaches business communication in the public and private sectors. Clients include [[Deutsche Bank]], the UK [[Home Office]] and [[Skype]].<ref>{{cite news |date=22 March 2010 |title=Comic Ruby Wax runs workshops for Home Office staff |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/mar/22/ruby-wax-workshops-home-office}}</ref>

In September 2013, Wax graduated from [[Kellogg College, Oxford]], with a master's degree in [[Mindfulness (psychology)|mindfulness]]-based cognitive therapy.<ref>{{cite news |date=17 September 2013 |title=Hats off to comic Ruby |newspaper=[[Oxford Mail]] |url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/10678444.Hats_off_to_comic_Ruby/ |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref> She had previously earned a postgraduate certificate in psychotherapy and counselling from [[Regent's University London|Regent's College]] in London.<ref>{{cite web |title=Training and Education |url=http://rubywaxleadership.co.uk/index.php/training-and-education/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228024319/http://rubywaxleadership.co.uk/training-and-education/ |archive-date=28 December 2014 |access-date=27 December 2014 |website=rubywaxleadership.co.uk}}</ref>

In 2016, Wax published her first mindfulness book, ''A Mindfulness Guide For The Frazzled,'' within which she sets out her own six-week mindfulness course with the blessing of Mark Williams, her professor at Oxford and co-creator of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-01-10 |title=Ruby Wax: 'I wanted to find a method to defuse my depression' |url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jan/10/ruby-wax-defuse-my-depression-a-mindfulness-guide-for-the-frazzled |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref>

After the 2020 lockdown period caused by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], her book ''And Now for the Good News...'' was published. Still related to [[mindfulness]], it discusses her discovery of new ways for [[education]], [[community]], [[self-sustainability]], [[business]] or [[volunteering]] to improve lives internationally.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ruby Wax |url=https://www.waterstones.com/book/and-now-for-the-good-news/ruby-wax/9780241400647 |website=www.waterstones.com}}</ref> Her book ''A Mindfulness Guide For Survival'' was published in August 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Mindfulness Guide for Survival |url=https://www.waterstones.com/book/a-mindfulness-guide-for-survival/ruby-wax/9781787399594 |website=www.waterstones.com}}</ref>

She lectures at [[Bangor University]] and in 2022 received an honorary degree from the university.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bangor.ac.uk/news/ruby-wax-steve-backshall-to-receive-honorary-degrees-from-bangor-university | title=Ruby Wax, Steve Backshall to receive honorary degrees from Bangor University}}</ref>

==Mental health campaigning==
[[File:Ruby-Wax-2016 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Wax in 2016]]
Wax has been open about her struggles with [[bipolar disorder]] and [[major depressive disorder|depression]].<ref>{{ cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/jul/17/ruby-wax-depression-interview | title=Ruby Wax: 'I think I became a cartoon to escape how ill I was' | date=July 17, 2011 | website=Guardian.com }}</ref> She made an online series on mental health issues for the BBC and has worked with mental health charities.

Wax's 2010 stand-up show ''Losing It'' dealt with her mental health, including time she spent in a psychiatric clinic.<ref>{{ cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2011/feb/27/ruby-wax-losing-it-live | date=February 27, 2011 | title=Ruby Wax, Losing It – review | website=Guardian.com }}</ref> Wax founded the mental health website (which is now part of the [[SANE (charity)|SANE]] mental health charity) in 2011 in response to the audience reaction from her theatre show.<ref>{{cite web |title=Home |url=http://www.sane.org.uk |website=SANE, mental health charity - emotional support, research and campaigning}}</ref>

In 2013, Wax published ''Sane New World'', which became a number-one best-seller. It was followed in January 2016 by ''A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rubywax.net/blog/an-announcement |title=An Announcement... |website=RubyWax.net |date=25 February 2015}}</ref> In 2018 her third book on the subject of mental health came out: ''How to Be Human: The Manual'', written with the help of a [[neuroscientist]] and a monk.

In June 2015, Wax was appointed visiting professor in Mental Health Nursing at the [[University of Surrey]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Wood |first=Tanya |date=24 June 2015 |title=Ruby Wax appointed Visiting Professor at the University of Surrey |url=https://www.surrey.ac.uk/mediacentre/press/2015/ruby-wax-appointed-visiting-professor-university-surrey |website=[[University of Surrey]]}}</ref> In the [[2015 Special Honours]], she was appointed an [[Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) for her services to mental health.<ref name="obeaward">{{cite web |date=27 April 2015 |title=Ruby Wax to be awarded OBE for mental health work |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32477545 |access-date=27 April 2015 |website=BBC News}}</ref><ref name=2015awards>{{cite web |title=Honorary Awards |date=2015 |publisher=Gov.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/509363/2015_Honorary_Awards_-_Final.pdf}}</ref>

In May 2023, Wax released her new book and accompanying audiobook ''I’m Not As Well As I Thought I Was'', which details her recent life including further time spent receiving psychiatric treatment and battles against depression.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/aug/04/im-not-as-well-as-i-thought-i-was-by-ruby-wax-audiobook-review-a-wild-ride-through-depression|title=I'm Not As Well As I Thought I Was by Ruby Wax audiobook review – a wild ride through depression|website=The Guardian|last=Sturges|first=Fiona|date=4 August 2023|access-date=5 March 2024}}</ref> She toured a one-woman show based on the book.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2023/nov/22/ruby-wax-im-not-as-well-as-i-thought-i-was-review|title=Ruby Wax: I'm Not As Well As I Thought I Was review – wandering towards wellness|website=The Guardian|last=Logan|first=Brian|date=22 November 2023|access-date=5 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comedy/what-to-see/ruby-wax-theatre-royal-brighton-review/|title=Ruby Wax offers a confused but charismatic journey around mental health|website=The Telegraph|last=Harding|first=Tim|date=15 September 2023|access-date=5 March 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
During her six years at the [[Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama]], [[Alan Rickman]], her flatmate and best friend, directed comedy shows written by Wax, casting [[Zoe Wanamaker]], [[David Suchet]], [[Richard Griffiths]], and [[Jonathan Pryce]].<ref name="smh.com.au/p5ktz4">{{cite news |last1=Jinman |first1=Richard |title=She's as funny as ever but when Ruby Wax isn't OK, she knows what to do |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/comedy/she-s-as-funny-as-ever-but-when-ruby-wax-isn-t-ok-she-knows-what-to-do-20241127-p5ktz4.html |access-date=3 May 2025 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=3 December 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
<blockquote>I made him laugh, and he made me think,...If I could make him laugh, it was a triumph. In fact, the only reason I went into comedy was to make Alan laugh<ref name="smh.com.au/p5ktz4"/></blockquote>

Wax is married to television producer and director [[Ed Bye]]. They have three children: Max (born 1988), Madeleine (born 1990), and Marina (born 1993).<ref>{{cite news |last=McFadyean |first=Melanie |date=17 April 1993 |title=How we met: Ruby Wax and Ed Bye |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/how-we-met-ruby-wax-and-ed-bye-1455941.html |access-date=10 August 2015}}</ref>

In an episode of the BBC's ''[[Who Do You Think You Are? (British TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]'' in 2017, Wax revealed her great-grandmother and great-aunt had been committed to mental asylums in [[Brno]] and [[Vienna]] as they were incurably "agitated".<ref>{{cite web |date=4 October 2017 |title=WDYTYA? episode summary: Ruby Wax |url=http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/wdytya-episode-summary-ruby-wax |access-date=7 October 2017 |website=Who Do You Think You Are? |publisher=Immediate Media Company}}</ref>

In 2019, Wax fell off a horse while on holiday, severely injuring her back.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ruby Wax pulls out of Fringe show after 'serious accident' on holiday |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17843193.ruby-wax-pulls-fringe-show-39-serious-accident-39/ |access-date=2019-08-17 |website=HeraldScotland |date=16 August 2019 |language=en}}</ref> She had to cancel her show ''How to Be Human'' at the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]] as a result of her injuries.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-08-16 |title=Ruby Wax cancels Fringe shows after horse fall |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-49377136 |access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref>

Wax has been a [[British nationality law|naturalised British citizen]] since the 1970s, while retaining her American citizenship.<ref name=":0" />

==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
| rowspan="3" |1981
|''[[Chariots of Fire]]''
|Bunty
|
|-
|''[[Shock Treatment]]''
|Betty Hapschatt
|
|-
|''[[Omen III: The Final Conflict]]''
|U.S. Ambassador's Secretary
|Uncredited
|-
|1982
|''[[Things Are Tough All Over]]''
|Restaurant Patron
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1985
|''[[Romance on the Orient Express]]''
|Susan Lawson
|Television film
|-
|''[[Water (1985 film)|Water]]''
|Spenco Executive
|
|-
|1986
|''Come Dancing''
| rowspan="4" |Herself
| rowspan="4" |Documentary film
|-
|1998
|''Ruby Wax's Miami Memoirs''
|-
|1991
|''Ruby Takes a Trip...''
|-
|1992
|''Wax Acts''
|-
|1997
|[[The Borrowers (1997 film)|''The Borrowers'']]
|Town Hall Clerk
|
|-
|2000
|''Ruby Wax Gets Streetwise''
|Herself
|Documentary film
|-
|2005
|[[Tara Road (film)|''Tara Road'']]
|Carlotta
|
|-
|2008
|''Agent Crush''
|Charleen Chinstubble (voice)
|
|-
|2011
|''[[The British Guide to Showing Off]]''
|Herself
|Documentary film
|-
|2012
|''[[Sir Billi]]''
|Patty Turner (voice)
|
|-
|2021
|''[[Ron's Gone Wrong]]''
|Ms. Hartley (voice)
|
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1979
|''[[Not the Nine O'Clock News]]''
|
|1 episode
|-
|1980
|[[The Professionals (TV series)|''The Professionals'']]
|Lonnie
|Episode: "Blood Sports"
|-
|1985
|[[Happy Families (1985 TV series)|''Happy Families'']]
|Waitress
|Episode: "Cassie"
|-
|1985–1986
|[[Girls on Top (British TV series)|''Girls on Top'']]
|Shelley
|13 episodes
|-
|1986–1992
|''[[Wogan]]''
|Herself
|5 episodes
|-
|1987–1988
|''Don't Miss Wax''
|Herself - Host
|16 episodes
|-
|1988–1989
|''Wax on Wheels''
|Herself
|
|-
|1988–1993
|''[[Count Duckula]]''
|Various (voice)
|15 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3" |1989
|''[[Red Dwarf]]''
|Blaize Falconberger
|Episode: "[[Timeslides]]"
|-
|''East Meets Wax''
|Herself
|
|-
|''Class of '69''
| rowspan="3" |Presenter
|
|-
|1990
|''Hit and Run''
|1 episode
|-
|1991–1994
|''The Full Wax''
|23 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" |1992
|''[[The Comic Strip|The Comic Strip Presents...]]''
|Sue
|Episode: "Wild Turkey"
|-
|''Wax Acts''
| rowspan="3" |Presenter
|
|-
|1993
|''Wax Cracks Hollywood''
|
|-
|1994–1998
|''Ruby Wax Meets...''
|21 episodes
|-
|1995, 2001
|''[[Absolutely Fabulous]]''
|Candy / Beth De Woodi
|Also script editor (39 episodes)
|-
|1996
|''[[Oscar's Orchestra]]''
|Hannah the Harp (voice)
|
|-
|1997–2000
|''[[Ruby (talk show)|Ruby]]''
| rowspan="7" |Presenter
|[[BBC]] talk show; 48 episodes
|-
|1999–2000
|''Ruby's American Pie''
|12 episodes
|-
|1999
|''Ruby''
|Talk-reality show airing on [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]]; 10 episodes
|-
|2001
|''Hot Wax''
|
|-
|2001–2002
|[[The Waiting Game (game show)|''The Waiting Game'']]
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2002
|''[[Commercial Breakdown]]''
|8 episodes
|-
|''The Ruby Wax Show''
|
|-
|2002–2003
|''[[V Graham Norton]]''
|Herself - Guest
|4 episodes
|-
| rowspan="4" |2003
|''Ruby Wax With...''
|Presenter
|6 episodes
|-
|''[[Comic Relief Does Fame Academy]]''
| rowspan="4" |Herself
|[[Comic Relief Does Fame Academy (series 1)|Series one]]
|-
|''[[The Big Read]]''
|2 episodes
|-
|''[[Have I Got News for You]]''
|1 episode
|-
| rowspan="3" |2004
|''Ruby Does the Business''
|Mini-series
|-
|''Planet Cook''
|Roxie (voice)
|
|-
|''[[French and Saunders]]''
|The Executive
|1 episode
|-
| rowspan="2" |2005
|[[Jackass (franchise)|''Jackass'']]
|Herself
|Episode: "Gumball 3000 Rally Special"
|-
|[[Gameshow Marathon (British game show)|''Gameshow Marathon'']]
|Herself - Contestant
|4 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3" |2006
|''[[Cirque de Celebrité]]''
|Presenter
|10 episodes
|-
|''[[Popetown]]''
|The Pope (voice)
|10 episodes
|-
|''[[Dawn French's Girls Who Do Comedy]]''
|Herself
|3 episodes
|-
|2009
|''[[Taking the Flak]]''
|Candida
|Episode: "Black Gold"
|-
|2012
|''Ruby Wax's Mad Confessions''
| rowspan="4" |Herself
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |2013
|''[[Anna & Katy]]''
| rowspan="2" |1 episode
|-
|''[[College Tour]]''
|-
|[[The Spa (TV series)|''The Spa'']]
|Episode: "Christmas Special: Strangers in the Night"
|-
|2014
|''[[Crackanory]]''
|Host - Presenter
|Episode: "Let Me Be the Judge & I'm Still Here"
|-
| rowspan="3" |2017
|[[Who Do You Think You Are? (British TV series)|''Who Do You Think You Are?'']]
| rowspan="2" |Herself
|1 episode
|-
|''Head Talks''
|
|-
|[[Thunderbirds Are Go (TV series)|''Thunderbirds Are Go'']]
|Hayley Edmonds (voice)
|Episode: "Bolt from the Blue"
|-
|2018
|''Ruby Wax: How to Be Human''
|Presenter
|Mini-series
|-
|2020
|[[Question Time (TV programme)|''Question Time'']]
| rowspan="7" |Herself
|1 episode
|-
|2021
|''When Ruby Wax Met…''
|3 episodes
|-
| rowspan="4" |2022
|[[Countdown (game show)|''Countdown'']]
|Dictionary corner; 5 episodes
|-
|[[The Great British Bake Off|''The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer'']]
|1 episode
|-
|[[Celebrity Gogglebox|''Celebrity Gogglebox for Stand Up to Cancer'']]
|1 episode; Series 20 episode 8
|-
|''Trailblazers: A Rocky Mountain Road Trip''
| 3 episodes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001fqx2|title=Trailblazers: A Rocky Mountain Road Trip |website=bbc.co.uk|accessdate=22 November 2022}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |2023
|''Ruby Wax: Cast Away''
|2 episodes
|-
|[[The Weakest Link (British game show)|''The Weakest Link'']]
|Celebrity Contestant
|1 episode
|-
|2025
|[[Andor (TV series)|Andor]]
|[[wookieepedia:Moffi|Moffi]] and [[wookieepedia:Toffi|Toffi]]
|Good Morning, Coruscant hosts; 1 episode<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ruby Wax {{!}} Actress, Script and Continuity Department, Writer |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0915375/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref>
|}

==Stage==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Role(s)
!Venue
!Ref.
|-
|1977
|''[[The Days of the Commune]]''
|Woman
|[[Aldwych Theatre]]
|<ref>{{cite web |title=DAY197711 - The Days of the Commune |url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/day197711/ |website=RSC Performances |publisher=Shakespeare Birthplace Trust |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>
|-
|1977
|''[[The Alchemist (play)|The Alchemist]]''
|Neighbour
|[[Aldwych Theatre]]
|<ref>{{cite web |title=ALC197712 - The Alchemist |url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/alc197712/ |website=RSC Performances |publisher=Shakespeare Birthplace Trust |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>
|-
|1978
|''[[The Way of the World]]''
|Betty
|[[Aldwych Theatre]]
|<ref>{{cite web |title=WAY197801 - The Way of the World |url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/way197801/ |website=RSC Performances |publisher=Shakespeare Birthplace Trust |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>
|-
|1978
|''[[The Tempest]]''
|Spirit
|[[Royal Shakespeare Theatre]]
|<ref>{{cite web |title=TEM197805 - The Tempest |url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/tem197805/ |website=RSC Performances |publisher=Shakespeare Birthplace Trust |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>
|-
|1978
|''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]''
|performer
|[[Royal Shakespeare Theatre]]
|<ref>{{cite web |title=TAM197805 - The Taming of the Shrew |url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/tam197805/ |website=RSC Performances |publisher=Shakespeare Birthplace Trust |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>
|-
|1978
|''[[Measure for Measure]]''
|Nun, Whore
|[[Royal Shakespeare Theatre]]
|<ref>{{cite web |title=MEA197806 - Measure for Measure |url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/mea197806/ |website=RSC Performances |publisher=Shakespeare Birthplace Trust |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>
|-
|1978
|''[[Love's Labour's Lost]]''
|Jaquenetta
|[[Royal Shakespeare Theatre]]
|<ref>{{cite web |title=LOV197808 - Love's Labour's Lost |url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/lov197808/ |website=RSC Performances |publisher=Shakespeare Birthplace Trust |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>
|-
|1979
|''The Johnson Wax Show''
|performer, writer
|[[Northern Stage, Newcastle upon Tyne|Gulbenkian Studio]]
|<ref>{{cite web |title=JOW197903 - The Johnson Wax Floor Show |url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/jow197903/ |website=RSC Performances |publisher=Shakespeare Birthplace Trust |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>
|-
|1979
|''Desperately Yours''
|performer
|[[Northern Stage, Newcastle upon Tyne|Gulbenkian Studio]]
|<ref>{{cite web |title=DEP197903 - Desperately Yours |url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/dep197903/ |website=RSC Performances |publisher=Shakespeare Birthplace Trust |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>
|-
|1979
|''[[Love's Labour's Lost]]''
|Jaquenetta
|[[Aldwych Theatre]]
|<ref>{{cite web |title=LOV197904 - Love's Labour's Lost |url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/lov197904/ |website=RSC Performances |publisher=Shakespeare Birthplace Trust |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>
|-
|1979
|''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]''
|performer
|[[Aldwych Theatre]]
|<ref>{{cite web |title=TAM197904 - The Taming of the Shrew |url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/tam197904/ |website=RSC Performances |publisher=Shakespeare Birthplace Trust |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>
|-
|1979
|''[[The Innocent (play)|The Innocent]]''
|Suzie
|[[Donmar Warehouse|Warehouse]]
|<ref>{{cite web |title=INC197905 - The Innocent |url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/inc197905/ |website=RSC Performances |publisher=Shakespeare Birthplace Trust |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>
|-
|1979
|''[[Wild Oats (play)|Wild Oats]]''
|Jane, Maid
|[[Aldwych Theatre]]
|<ref>{{cite web |title=WIL197907 - Wild Oats |url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/wil197907/ |website=RSC Performances |publisher=Shakespeare Birthplace Trust |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>
|-
|1979
|''Sore Throats''
|Sally
|[[Donmar Warehouse|Warehouse]]
|<ref>{{cite web |title=SOR197908 - Sore Throats |url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/sor197908/ |website=RSC Performances |publisher=Shakespeare Birthplace Trust |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>
|-
|2005
|''[[The Witches (novel)|The Witches]]''
|The Grand High Witch
|[[Wyndham's Theatre]]
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/the-witches-starring-ruby-wax-at-wyndhams-from-3-mar-2005 | title="The Witches" starring Ruby Wax at Wyndham's from 3 Mar 2005 | date=8 June 2016 }}</ref>
|}

==Bibliography==

* ''How Do You Want Me?'' (2002)
* ''Sane New World'' (2013)
* ''A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled'' (2016)
* ''How to Be Human: The Manual'' (2018)
* ''And Now for the Good News...: The Much-needed Tonic for Our Frazzled World'' (2020)
* ''Mindfulness Guide for Survival'' (2021)
* ''I’m Not As Well As I Thought I Was '' (2023)

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
<!-- per [[WP:ELMINOFFICIAL]], choose one official website only -->
* {{Official website|http://rubywax.net|Ruby Wax}} – official site
* {{Discogs artist}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{cite episode |title=Ruby Wax discusses the life and work of Carl Gustav Jung |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00jxhdd |series=[[Great Lives]] |network=BBC |station=[[BBC Radio 4|Radio 4]] |date=1 May 2009 |series-no=18 |number=4}} 
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ted.com/talks/ruby_wax_what_s_so_funny_about_mental_illness.html |title=What's so funny about mental illness? |website=[[TED Talks]]|date=10 October 2012 }}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wax, Ruby}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Academics of the University of Surrey]]
[[Category:Actresses from Evanston, Illinois]]
[[Category:Alumni of Regent's University London]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland]]
[[Category:Alumni of Kellogg College, Oxford]]
[[Category:American emigrants to England]]
[[Category:American people of Austrian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American women comedians]]
[[Category:British actresses]]
[[Category:Comedians from Evanston, Illinois]]
[[Category:British women comedians]]
[[Category:Chancellors of the University of Southampton]]
[[Category:Evanston Township High School alumni]]
[[Category:Jewish American actresses]]
[[Category:Jewish American comedians]]
[[Category:Jewish women comedians]]
[[Category:Jewish British comedians]]
[[Category:Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Royal Shakespeare Company members]]
[[Category:UC Berkeley College of Letters and Science alumni]]
[[Category:Honorary officers of the Order of the British Empire]]