Ruby Wax OBE

Ruby Wax OBE

Ruby Wax is an American comedian who made a career in the United Kingdom as part of the alternative comedy scene in the 1980s.

She is one of the country's most-admired celebrities and interviewers--known for her directness, intuition and humour. She was raised in Evanston, Illinois in the 1950s and 60s. She elected to major in psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. Ruby Wax came to the UK and studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and began her acting career as a straight actress at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. In 1978, she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. Her popularity in terms of comedy came from her interviewing technique: she was always forthright, brash and loud, conforming to the British stereotype of an American. Many of her early television shows involved her simply meeting and interviewing people. In 1987, Ruby was given her own comedy chat show Don't Miss Wax, on Channel 4. Ruby began work with the BBC in 1991 in a variety of television documentaries and interview programs, culminating with her 1996 series Ruby Wax Meets. She was nominated in 1996 for a BAFTA award for her interview with Sarah, Duchess of York, which attracted over 14 million viewers. Ruby's 2010/11 standup show Losing It deals with her experience of depression. She founded a mental health website in 2011 in response to the audience reaction from her theater show. In addition, Ruby teaches business communication in both the public and private sector, clients include Deutsche Bank, the UK Home Office and Skype. Currently, she is attending Kellogg College at Oxford University to obtain a Master's Degree in mindfulness based cognitive therapy, having previously obtained a postgraduate certificate in psychotherapy and counselling from Regents College in London.