Comedian and mental health campaigner Ruby Wax is set to return to the public eye in a major way, having entered the jungle as a contestant on I'm A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2025.
From Stage to Screen: A Multifaceted Career
Born Ruby Wachs on 19 April 1953 in Evanston, Illinois, the 72-year-old star now holds dual US-UK citizenship. Her career began on the stage, with prestigious work for the Royal Shakespeare Company, before she successfully transitioned into television.
She became a household name by hosting her own iconic shows, including Ruby Wax Meets…, The Full Wax, and The Ruby Wax Show. Behind the scenes, Wax also served as a script editor on the beloved sitcom Absolutely Fabulous for many years.
Advocacy and Authorship: A New Chapter
Ruby Wax has seamlessly channelled her personal experiences into a powerful second act as a leading mental health advocate. She holds an MSc in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy from Oxford University and puts her knowledge into practice as a Visiting Professor in Mental Health Nursing at the University of Surrey.
Her advocacy work is hands-on. She lectures, runs retreats, and is the founder of the Frazzled Café, a registered charity that provides a supportive space for people to talk about mental wellbeing. Her bestselling books, such as Sane New World and A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled, further extend her reach. In recognition of her immense contribution to mental health awareness, Ruby Wax was awarded an OBE in 2015.
Family Life and Fortune
Away from the spotlight, Ruby Wax has enjoyed a long and stable family life. She has been married to British film and TV producer Ed Bye since 1988. Together, they are parents to three children: Max (born 1988), Madeleine (born 1990), and Marina (born 1993).
After decades of success across comedy, television, writing, and public speaking, Ruby Wax's estimated net worth stands at around £3.5 million. As she takes on the I'm A Celebrity challenge, a new generation is discovering the woman behind the groundbreaking career.
