Ruby Wax

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the broadcaster and comedian Ruby Wax. Her brass neck and immunity to embarrassment led to her pioneering a new brand of journalism which saw celebrities, film stars and even royalty open their hearts - and their sock drawers - to her. She rifled through Madonna's handbag and, with Ruby's encouragement, Imelda Marcos entertained the audience with a rendition of Feelings.

Ruby grew up in Illinois, the only child of Jewish refugees who had fled Austria in 1939. Her childhood was unhappy - and, by the time she was 18, she says she was so unconfident she feared she would never find a job without her parents' help. But she left America and came to Britain where, eventually, she was to find a place at the Royal Shakespeare Company. There, her friend and contemporary Alan Rickman persuaded her that her future lay in writing rather than acting. Her career has spanned more than 20 years but she says that while she has been enjoying the success that came her way, she has also suffered from depression and an anxiety that she should not pass on to her own children the insecurities she suffered from herself.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Choices

1.

The Doors

People are Strange

Others who chose this artist

2.

Kathy Nolan and Mary Martin

Never Never Land

3.

Castaway's favourite

The Beatles

A Day in the Life

Others who chose this artist

4.

The Cast of West Side Story

Quintet

5.

Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky

Night On The Bare Mountain

Orchestra: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Yoel Levi

Others who chose this artist

6.

George Benjamin

A Mind of Winter

Soloist: Penelope Walmsley-Clark Orchestra: The London Sinfonietta Orchestra Conductor: George Benjamin

Others who chose this artist

7.

Ludwig van Beethoven

Symphony No. 8 in F major - 4th movement

Orchestra: Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Others who chose this artist

8.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Concerto for Two Violins in D minor - 1st movement

Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Conductor: Elizabeth Wallfisch

Others who chose this artist

Book

The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann

Others who chose this author

Luxury item

A huge bed

Others who chose a similar luxury