In When Ruby Wax Met … the star takes a look back at her iconic celebrity interviews – and it’s a fascinating watch, as Georgia Humphreys discovers.
Ruby Wax became known through the Nineties series Ruby Wax Meets, in which she traveled around the globe to film weird segments with various public figures such as Baywatch star Pamela Anderson and former sports star OJ Simpson.
There was also her late night talk show Ruby, which aired from 1997 to 2000, and she worked as a script editor for the sitcom Absolutely Fabulous.
Now Illinois-born wax returns on the new BBC Two show “When Ruby Wax Met …
In three episodes we see the comedian reflect on her television career, her refreshing interview style and the most memorable encounters, including interviews with former American President Donald Trump, Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher and Hollywood star Tom Hanks.
Here the 68-year-old, who has been married to producer and director Ed Bye since 1988, tells us more.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO WATCH THESE ICONIC INTERVIEWS FOR THE FIRST TIME?
You get my reactions as I watch; I am scared. It looked like I was having a great time. If it weren’t for me, I’d be so jealous because hanging out with people was so fun and some of them I became friends with. It was like the unpopular girl suddenly had access to all of these really great, popular girls.
Carrie Fisher and I became best friends. Stay at her home and she makes me laugh and read parts of her book to me … what a joy.
WHO WAS YOUR DIFFICULT INTERVIEWER?
Oh, Donald Trump! That was a car accident. Bad interviews still make good television, but I just find it horrific, and it’s what not to do. He kicked me off his plane. I thought he was kidding when he said he wanted to be president. I thought he was funny – and he wasn’t.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST LESSONS YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM YOUR CAREER?
I didn’t know if you lost a job it would be okay. Luckily I reinvented myself, but it could be a tragedy if you hold onto something and they take it away from you and you just keep telling people, “Oh, do you remember who I was?” and that’s your highlight. When you have a career and it’s taken, find another one.
YOUR FIFTH BOOK RECENTLY PUBLISHED, CALLED A CAREFUL GUIDE TO SURVIVAL. TELL US MORE?
I wrote it during the pandemic. It’s a workbook, so there are questionnaires, you can draw in it, you can write in it. It’s like keeping a diary about how to survive and be happy in a world that is pretty rocky.
I do mindfulness, but the book is not just about mindfulness. It’s a bit of self-reflection because people got sick thinking what if? during Covid-19 and it made them sicker than actually getting sick and I found that interesting.
As a mental health provider, how concerned are you about the impact of the pandemic?
I wanted to get the book out by August because I thought that in December people would be so traumatized or try to pretend nothing had happened. We don’t even recognize the consequences of it (Covid-19). But then it just happened and we don’t even know if it’s over. I did these (online) nightly get-togethers called Frazzled Cafe (where people can openly talk about the stresses of modern life) every night during lockdown; That’s how I got the idea for the book. I still do it once a week and believe me people are still pretty much in a panic.
BEING IN THE EYE OF THE PUBLIC CAN BE DIFFICULT. HOW WAS YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AT THE LEVEL OF YOUR TV CAREER?
I had depression, but I didn’t have it all the time. It was every three to five years. So, I’m lucky I didn’t have a nine-to-five job because then you’d be fired. But luckily I didn’t work when I was sick.
THE INDUSTRY HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST YEARS. IT’S MUCH LESS RARE NOW TO HAVE A WOMEN’S CENTER STAGE …
My daughters (Marina and Madeleine Bye) are comedy acts and do live shows all the time. They’re called Siblings, and my daughter (Madeleine) produces shows, and it’s a lot of women who show up. So now is your chance.
(Sibling) is very French and Saunders; it’s not what i do. But good luck – who knows who’s doing it?
You’re on the final When Ruby Wax Met show … watching me. It was Clive’s idea, the producer. He said, “Put your daughters in, let’s see what they think”. You are really funny.
When Ruby Wax Met … launches Sunday August 22nd on BBC Two.