Suzy Izzard given honorary doctorate by the University of Sussex
Suzy Eddie Izzard has received an honorary doctorate from the University of Sussex. (Getty Images)
Suzy Eddie Izzard has received an honorary doctorate from the University of Sussex. (Getty Images)
Suzy Izzard, also known as Eddie, has been awarded an honorary doctorate.
The comedian and actor was honoured for her work as an activist and philanthropist, as well as for that on screen and stage, at a ceremony at the University of Sussex on Monday (21 July).
“It is even more special that this is being awarded by the University of Sussex as this is the county in which I grew up and one which holds a special place in my heart,” the star said, according the BBC.
Izzard is an LGBTQ+ advocate and raised £1.8 million ($2.4 million) for Sport Relief by completing 43 marathons in 51 days in 2009. She raised a further £135 million ($182 million) for the same charity after running 27 marathons in 27 days in South Africa.
Gay former MP Ben Bradshaw and writer and Aids activist Simon Watney were also recognised at Monday’s ceremony.
The vice-chancellor and president of the University of Sussex, Professor Sasha Roseneil, said: “We are grateful to all our honorary graduands for their inspirational public service in their respective fields and for all they have done to make the world a progressively better place.”
Izzard has revealed that she knew by the time she was five years old that she was transgender. “I loved playing football and I was very scrappy in school so no one said: ‘You must be trans’. Kids are braver these days, I wasn’t at that point,” she told Virgin Radio Pride.
After failing to be selected as the parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion, Izzard suggested last year that being a trans woman negatively affected her chances of becoming an MP.
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