Ruby Wax on Interviewing The World's Most Dangerous Men & Grieving Alan Rickman

Begin Again with Davina McCall

FlightStory

Society & Culture, Education, Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Self-improvement

4.7 • 970 Ratings

🗓️ 2 April 2026

⏱️ 68 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What if the place you’re meant to feel safest… never was? In this episode of Begin Again, Ruby Wax opens up about a life shaped by chaos, fear, and an unrelenting search for safety. Growing up in a home filled with instability and emotional unpredictability, Ruby shares how those early experiences have stayed with her, long after she left. She reflects on the strange reality that, even now, she often feels safest in the most dangerous situations and why home has never been the place that gives her comfort. From childhood trauma to a lifelong battle with depression, Ruby speaks candidly about what it really feels like to live inside a mind that can turn against you. She also revisits some of the most defining moments of her career, interviewing figures like Bill Cosby and Donald Trump, navigating the power dynamics and darkness she encountered along the way. These weren’t just interviews, they were experiences that shaped how she sees people, the world, and herself. At the heart of this conversation is Ruby’s journey toward understanding her mind. From studying neuroscience to exploring mindfulness and meditation, she shares how she’s learned to manage the noise, the fear, and the patterns that once controlled her. This is a story about survival, self-awareness, and what it takes to rebuild a sense of safety from the inside out. 🌟Follow Begin Again for more powerful conversations about resilience, growth, and starting over. Follow us here: 📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain 🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod Ruby’s Tour “Absolutely Famous” https://www.rubywax.net/livetour ✨Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for all your behind the scenes access, recommendations and much much more at: https://linkly.link/2g2xm (00:00) Intro (01:24) Ruby On Her Upcoming Tour “Absolutely Famous” (04:16) Why She Is Unable To Lie (05:13) Interviewing Bill Cosby And Donald Trump (07:54) Her Parents And Challenging Upbringing (10:33) Discovering The Truth About Her Family History And Generational Trauma (16:33) Safety And Insanity (18:43) Finding Safety In Dangerous Situations (20:13) Feeling Like An Outsider Growing Up (21:33) Ruby’s Experience Of Menopause (26:21) Airbnb Ad (27:28) Paramount+ Ad (28:44) Her Depression And Learning To Manage It (34:49) Ruby Reflects On Her Relationship With Husband Ed (37:40) Getting “Kicked Out Of TV” And Finding A New Purpose (39:20) Ruby’s Menopause (40:17) Friendship With Alan Rickman And Carrie Fisher (46:20) Becoming Ruby Wax And Asking Her Husband To Marry Her (49:11) I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, Friendship With Angry Ginge (50:43) Discovering The Power Of Mindfulness (57:18) Relationship With Gelong Thubten And A Month-Long Silent Retreat (01:01:15) Being With Alan Rickman When He Died (01:05:20) A Letter From Alan Rickman’s Niece Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at Airbnb.co.uk/Host Paramount+ - Episodes 1-3 of The Madison are available to stream on Paramount+ now: https://www.paramountplus.com/gb/shows/the-madison/ Episodes 4-6 will be available to stream on 21 March. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Bill Cosby tried to choke me to death.
0:02.0	20 years later, he's a criminal.
0:04.0	I could have told you on day one.
0:05.0	I feel safe on a stage.
0:06.0	Give me a group of people and their eyes are shining,
0:09.0	but homes are really unsafe.
0:11.0	I thought your dad beats up your mom.
0:13.0	That's their idea of hi-hot.
0:15.0	The only reason I married my husband was because he doesn't have a mental illness.
0:19.0	I didn't really like him that much.
0:20.0	He's quite a nice guy, though.
0:21.6	Yeah, and he had length. He had length. Yes, Ruby! I don't really know if I wanted to know that about Ed. I'll never be able to... Oh, he's tall. Oh, he's tall. Sorry, I thought you were talking about his penis. How did you feel interviewing all these people? these people. I thought Donald Trump was hilarious. I mean, you laughed at him going, I'm going to be president one day. Like I'm going to be vice president. And then Kerry Fisher was my best friend. I would love to delve into you and Alan Rickman. Oh, yeah. Greatest pairing ever. How did that happen? I didn't know that. I was kicked out of TV and they said, oh, your shows don't sell anymore. Yeah, bullshit. Do you mind me asking you about your depression? No, do you mind me answering it? You try to pretend you are still who you are if somebody comes over and visits, but they can't tell you're imitating who you are. And then they leave the room and you're gone. I was trying to find meaning, but I ended up in a mental ward, but then suddenly the sun is out.
1:14.6	And you go, okay, I'm normal again.
1:16.6	Have you done everything that you wanted to try before you died?
1:20.6	I mean...
1:21.6	I would like to start actually about your tour coming up because absolutely famous.
1:31.3	Right.
1:32.3	Starts at the end of March, I think 25th.
1:34.3	And what are we going to be seeing at this tour?
1:40.3	Well, since nobody ever played my videos, my films that I did in the BBC about 30 years ago,
1:49.0	I thought I'll just take them and tour them.
1:52.0	So you get to see, you know, Donald Trump, the off-cuts, where is he now?
	...

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