Swansea University presents honorary degree to Eddie Izzard

Swansea University has presented an honorary degree to comedian, actor, writer and political activist, Eddie Izzard.

The award was presented to Izzard today (25 July 2019) during the University’s degree ceremony for the College of Engineeringand she used the occasion encourage the successful students to go out in the world and help others.

“Have dreams, live life and live it well. Give back to others because that is a beautiful think. Make humanity great again.”

She also gained a spontaneous round of applause after urging anyone who is LGBT+ to come out and be open.

Her comments came after an introduction from comedian Max Boyce. He said:“As someone who knows only too well the precarious nature of comedy and the demands it makes, may I pay fulsome tribute to the comedic genius that is Eddie Izzard.”

Edward John Izzard was born on 7 February 1962 in the Colony of Aden. When Izzard was a year old the family moved to Northern Ireland, settling in Bangor, County Down and living there until Izzard was five.  The family then moved to Wales, where they lived in Skewen, West Glamorgan.

Eddie Izzard is renowned for her surrealist comedy. An accomplished actor, she has appeared in films such as Ocean’s Twelve, Ocean’s Thirteen, Valkyrie and Victoria & Abdul. She has also worked as a voice actor in films including The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Cars 2 and The Lego Batman Movie.

She has won numerous awards including a Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program for her comedy special Dress to Kill, in 2000. Her website won the Yahoo People’s Choice Award and earned the Webby Award.

She has campaigned for various causes.  In 2009, she completed 43 marathons in 51 days for Sport Relief despite having no prior history of long distance running.

She has been a Labour party activist for most of her life. She twice attempted to be elected for a seat on Labour’s National Executive Committee, and when Christine Shawcroft resigned in March 2018, she automatically took her place.

On receiving her award from Swansea, Eddie Izzard said: “Being a child who went to primary school in Swansea (at Oakleigh House school), it is a wonderful thing to receive an honorary doctorate from Swansea University.  It is a pleasure to come back to one of the cities of my childhood. Thank you so much.”

Prifysgol Abertawe’n cyflwyno gradd er anrhydedd i Eddie Izzard

Mae Prifysgol Abertawe wedi cyflwyno gradd er anrhydedd i’r digrifwr, yr actor, yr awdur a’r gweithredydd gwleidyddol, Eddie Izzard.

Cyflwynwyd y wobr i Eddie Izzard yn ystod seremoni raddio’r Brifysgol ar gyfer y Coleg Peirianneg lle bachodd ar y cyfle i annog graddedigion i fentro i’r byd ac helpu eraill.

“  Breuddwydiwch, byw bywyd a byw’n dda. Rhowch yn ôl i eraill oherwydd mae hynny’n beth hyfryd. Gwnewch y ddynoliaeth yn wych eto.”

Enillodd hefyd gymeradwyaeth ddigymell ar ôl annog unrhyw un sy’n LHDT+ i ddod allan a bod yn agored.

Meddai’r digrifwr, Max Boyce, a oedd yn cyflwyno’r wobr:  “Fel rhywun sy’n gwbl ymwybodol o natur ansicr comedi a’r gofynion sydd ynghlwm, a fyddai modd imi dalu teyrnged wenieithus i’r athrylith gomedïaidd, Eddie Izzard.”

Ganwyd Edward John Izzard ar 7 Chwefror 1962 yn nhreftadaeth Aden. Pan oedd Eddie’n un oed, symudodd y teulu i Ogledd Iwerddon, gan ymgartrefu ym Mangor, County Down a byw yno nes i Eddie droi’n 5 oed.  Yna, symudodd y teulu i Gymru lle buont yn byw yn Sgiwen, Gorllewin Morgannwg.

Mae Eddie Izzard yn enwog am ei digrifwch swrrealaidd. Yn actor medrus hefyd, mae wedi ymddangos mewn ffilmiau megis Ocean’s Twelve, Ocean’s Thirteen, Valkyrie a Victoria & Abdul. Mae hefyd wedi gweithio fel actor llais mewn ffilmiau, gan gynnwys The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Cars 2 a The Lego Batman Movie.

Mae wedi ennill nifer o wobrau, gan gynnwys gwobr Primetime Emmy ar gyfer Perfformiad Unigol mewn Rhaglen Amrywiaethol neu Gerddoriaeth ar gyfer ei chyfres gomedi, Dress to Kill, yn 2000. Enillodd ei gwefan Wobr Dewis y Bobl Yahoo a Gwobr Webby.

Mae wedi ymgyrchu dros achosion niferus.  Yn 2009, rhedodd 43 o farathonau mewn 51 o ddiwrnodau ar gyfer Sport Relief, er nad oedd ganddi brofiad blaenorol o redeg pellteroedd hir.

Mae wedi bod yn weithredydd dros y Blaid Lafur am y rhan fwyaf o’i bywyd. Rhoddodd ddau gynnig ar gael ei ethol i sedd ar Bwyllgor Gwaith Cenedlaethol y Blaid Lafur, a phan ymddiswyddodd Christine Shawcroft ym mis Mawrth 2018, cymerodd ei lle yn awtomatig.

Wrth dderbyn ei wobr, meddai Eddie: “Wrth fynychu ysgol gynradd yn Abertawe yn blentyn (Ysgol Tŷ Oakleigh), mae’n hyfryd derbyn doethuriaeth er anrhydedd gan Brifysgol Abertawe.  Mae’n bleser dychwelyd i un o ddinasoedd fy mhlentyndod. Diolch o galon.”