Ruby Wax has admitted she once believed that Louis Theroux had 'stolen' her career, according to multiple reports. Wax began her career with the Royal Shakespeare Company before co-starring on the sitcom Girls on Top. She rose to fame as a comic interviewer, presenting shows including The Full Wax, Ruby Wax Meets..., Ruby and The Ruby Wax Show in the 1990s. According to multiple reports, Ruby Wax described that just hearing Louis' name used to make her want to throw up or punch a wall, and she really felt he'd stolen her career.
Louis Theroux's career kicked off with Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends in 1998, followed by When Louis Met... and over 50 BBC Two specials, which began in 2003 and are still running today. During this period, Ruby Wax was dealing with issues in her personal life, which included being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and being admitted to hospital for it, multiple reports indicate. The exact circumstances and timeline of her diagnosis and hospitalization have not been disclosed.
Incredible, isn't it?
Ruby Wax's new show includes her playing clips of her famous TV interviews and reappraises them. The idea for this show was first suggested to her by Louis Theroux, according to multiple reports. The exact nature and content of her upcoming UK tour and new show remain unclear, as details have not been fully released.
Ruby Wax had previously explained on The Adam Buxton Podcast in 2019 that she'd 'evolved' from her initial feelings about Louis Theroux, but that there was 'still a little bit of anger', multiple reports indicate. Louis Theroux addressed Ruby Wax's comments in 2019 and said he felt bad for her but also flattered that she would be so annoyed, according to multiple reports. According to multiple reports, Louis Theroux described that he also feels like people resenting you is kind of a compliment, not to be glib about it, and he feels bad for her but a little part of him is flattered.
Just hearing Louis' name used to make me want to throw up or punch a wall. I really felt he'd stolen my career.
In 2010, Ruby Wax was a guest on Louis Theroux's Grounded podcast, where she reflected on struggling to see her work dry up while his career had reached new heights, multiple reports indicate. It is unknown what specific events or interactions led her to initially believe Theroux had stolen her career, or how they first met and what prompted her change in perception.
In 2023, Ruby Wax spoke about her one-sided feud with Louis Theroux on the Dish from Waitrose podcast, saying she even went so far as to ban his name, according to multiple reports. According to multiple reports, Ruby Wax described that while she didn't hate him personally, she admitted hating what he brought up, which is jealousy, envy, failure, and her dad's disapproval. She also noted that his name kept coming up over and over again, that it wasn't even his name anymore, and if she gets in a taxi, it happens maybe more than once a week where people ask if she used to do what Louis Theroux did or what happened to her. According to multiple reports, Ruby Wax described that he was her nemesis, she was quite bitter and angry, and then she had to give him two BAFTAs, so she forbade her children to ever use the name L. However, she later said that after meeting him, he was so generous and kind, and she apologized, getting him completely wrong. The current status of their relationship and whether they have collaborated further since 2010 has not been confirmed.
But then I met him and he was so generous and kind. Louis, I'm sorry. I got you completely wrong.
I also feel like people resenting you is kind of a compliment, not to be glib about it. I feel bad for her. I feel bad about it. And, at the same time, a little part of me is flattered that she would be so annoyed.
While she said she didn't hate him personally, she admitted hating 'what you brought up, which is jealousy, envy, failure, my dad's disapproval'.
[Your] name kept coming up over and over again, that it wasn't even your name anymore.
If I get in a taxi, it happens maybe more than once a week. They will say to me, 'Did you used to do what Louis Theroux did?' Or they say, 'What happened to you?'
He was my nemesis. I was quite bitter and angry, and then I had to give him two BAFTAs, not one, but two, so I forbade my children to ever use the name L