Ruby Wax's Decades-Long Resentment Toward Louis Theroux
American-British comedian and actress Ruby Wax has made a startling confession about her past feelings toward fellow documentary presenter Louis Theroux. The 72-year-old star revealed that for years, simply hearing Theroux's name would make her feel physically ill with resentment.
Parallel Careers and Perceived Theft
Ruby Wax, who began her career with the Royal Shakespeare Company before rising to fame in the 1990s with interview shows like The Full Wax and Ruby Wax Meets..., believed Theroux had essentially stolen her professional trajectory. Around the same time her career was peaking, Theroux launched his own documentary series Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends in 1998, followed by numerous BBC Two specials that continue to this day.
"Just hearing Louis' name used to make me want to throw up or punch a wall," Wax admitted in a recent interview with The Sunday Times. "I really felt he'd stolen my career."
Personal Struggles Amplified Professional Jealousy
The comedian's resentment toward Theroux coincided with significant personal challenges, including being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and requiring hospitalization. This combination of professional jealousy and personal turmoil created what Wax described as a "one-sided feud" that lasted for decades.
In 2010, during an appearance on Theroux's Grounded podcast, Wax explained the depth of her feelings: "I didn't hate you personally, but I hated what you brought up, which is jealousy, envy, failure, my dad's disapproval." She revealed that Theroux's name became so ubiquitous in comparisons to her own work that "it wasn't even your name anymore."
Extreme Measures and Public Comparisons
Wax's resentment reached such extremes that she forbade her children from using the name "Louis" in their household. She even claimed Theroux was "taking food out of my mouth and my children's" after her own show was canceled while his career flourished.
The parallels between their careers were undeniable. Wax's talk show ran from 1996 to 1998, while Theroux's Weird Weekends aired from 1998 to 2000. Both presenters built their reputations on intimate, sometimes uncomfortable interviews with celebrities and unusual subjects.
Reconciliation and Apology
Despite years of bitterness, the two presenters eventually reconciled. Wax credits Theroux with suggesting the concept for her current UK tour, where she revisits clips from her famous interviews. "But then I met him and he was so generous and kind," she said. "Louis, I'm sorry. I got you completely wrong."
Theroux responded to Wax's comments in 2019 with characteristic diplomacy: "I also feel like people resenting you is kind of a compliment... 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."
Diverging Career Paths in Recent Years
While Theroux has continued his documentary work with BBC series like Louis Theroux Interviews... and an upcoming Netflix documentary Inside the Manosphere, Wax has diversified her career. She has appeared on The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer, Celebrity Gogglebox, I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, and even the Star Wars spin-off Andor.
The comedian's forthcoming UK tour represents a full-circle moment, with Wax reappraising her television legacy while finally making peace with the colleague she once viewed as her professional nemesis.
