So how did a comedian who made her name with outrageous TV stunts land a royal medal? It starts with a genuine breakdown—the kind you can’t joke your way out of. In the early 2000s, Ruby hit a wall of severe depression that made her stand-up career feel like a hollow circus act. But instead of collapsing into a pile of sad clown makeup, she did something radical: she went back to school. She earned a Master’s degree in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy from Oxford University. Yes, the same Oxford that produces prime ministers and stuffy professors.
Now, you’d think a comedian with a therapist’s degree would just write a self-help book and call it a day. But Ruby went full tactical assault on the stigma of mental illness. She wrote Sane New World, a book that uses her trademark savage wit to explain how your brain is basically a hormonal toddler throwing tantrums. She made mindfulness funny—no small feat when the competition is chanting monks and Instagram influencers in yoga pants.
The OBE Ceremony: A Comedian’s Nightmare
When the official letter arrived, Ruby thought it was a prank. She told reporters she nearly threw it in the bin, assuming it was a tax bill in disguise. When she realized it was real, her first thought was, “What do I wear? A clown suit? A straitjacket?” She settled on a sensible dress, but the real comedy came when she had to curtsy to Prince William. She later admitted she wobbled like a flamingo on a tightrope.
Get to know Ruby Wax OBE! | I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
The ceremony, let me tell you, was a masterclass in cognitive dissonance. Here was a woman who once pretended to be a hooker on camera for a sketch, now accepting a royal honor with a straight face. But that’s the point: The OBE wasn’t for her jokes—it was for her ability to make millions of people feel less insane. She launched live mental health shows where she roasts her own panic attacks while the audience laughs and cries at the same time. It’s like a TED Talk, but with more profanity.
