Iconic American-British comedian Ruby Wax is already proving to be pure television gold on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! as she brings her unmistakable humour, unapologetic honesty, and razor-sharp wit to the Australian jungle. At 72, the legendary performer—known for her decades-long career in comedy, interviewing, and mental-health advocacy—is once again captivating audiences. And, unsurprisingly, viewers are divided: while many adore her straight-talking, no-nonsense approach, others find her humour a little too abrasive. But if there’s one thing everyone agrees on, it’s that Ruby will always do things entirely her way.

Since entering camp, Ruby has already delivered a string of standout jungle moments, from forming an unlikely bond with social media star Angry Ginge—at one point telling him to “get out of the way” because he was stealing her light—to questioning when “room service” might be available, and entertaining campmates with outrageous celebrity stories. One anecdote involved her sharing a plane with Donald Trump years before he became U.S. president (source: The Independent).

According to Radio Times, Ruby’s presence has injected “a completely unpredictable energy” into the 2025 series, with producers reportedly delighted at her ability to create spontaneous viral moments (source: Radio Times).

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A look back at Ruby’s evolving appearance

Fans watching from home have also been fascinated by Ruby’s remarkably youthful appearance. Her fresh-faced complexion at 72 has sparked discussion on social media, particularly among viewers familiar with her Instagram posts celebrating cold-water swimming and outdoor fitness as part of her wellness regime (source: Metro UK).

Ruby has only ever publicly addressed cosmetic procedures once, during a 2009 interview with The Guardian. She admitted she had “a little bit” of work done, adding that cosmetic treatments had become far more sophisticated over the years. “If you had it in Joan Rivers’s time, in the Stone Age, you would've made a big mistake,” she joked. “I’ve had tiny bits… whether I'd do a whole facelift, I don't know. In TV, people don't tolerate ageing” (source: The Guardian).

With trademark humour, Ruby also credited her “very wrinkle-free face” to an expensive moisturiser and her “good Polish skin,” referencing her Austrian-Jewish parents, Edward and Berthe Wachs, who grew up in Vienna.

She once stated that wrinkles could be “de-wrinkled in minutes thanks to the miracle of dermatology”—a comment fans still reference today.

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Cosmetic details Ruby has confirmed over the years

Beyond her modest admission to The Guardian, Ruby has occasionally revealed additional cosmetic details:

• She has annual lip enhancement treatments to maintain volume.

• She uses a prescription American product to encourage eyelash growth.

• After noticing dark under-eye circles, she had them surgically removed (“hoiked”) almost immediately.

Archive images from her early career—from her 30s through her Absolutely Fabulous era in the 2000s—highlight the dramatic shift in her look across the decades. Many of these photos have resurfaced as fans compare her past and present appearances (sources: BBC, Getty Images).

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Ruby's relationship with ageing and the industry

Ruby has been candid about her complicated relationship with ageing, both personally and professionally. She has long argued that ageism—particularly toward women—remains deeply entrenched in television. Speaking on Life Stories with Kate Garraway in 2023, she slammed the BBC for cancelling her A-list interview series the moment she reached 50.

“Because I turned 50 and that’s not allowed,” Ruby said bluntly when asked why her TV opportunities dried up. When Kate clarified whether it was an age issue, Ruby replied, “Of course” (source: ITV News).

In a 2024 interview, she expanded on her discomfort with discussions about ageing, revealing that her mother habitually lied about her age. That upbringing made ageing feel “shameful,” something Ruby said she had to unpack later in life (source: The Independent).

Yet despite her misgivings, Ruby continues to defy expectations. Even at 65—as photos from 2018 illustrate—she appeared far younger than her years.

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A career still evolving

Ruby’s jungle appearance comes after a period of renewed creative work, including her critically praised stage show I’m Not as Well as I Thought I Was and the publication of her memoir exploring her struggles with mental health. She was awarded an OBE in 2015 for her advocacy work, which included training as a Master’s-level psychotherapist at Oxford University (source: BBC).

Just a month before flying to Australia, she appeared at the Dinard Film Festival in France, where she was photographed in lively spirits—a reminder of her enduring presence on the international arts and comedy scene.

Despite her quips that “getting old is something that happens to other people,” Ruby admits that ageing feels like a “constant battle.” But as viewers can clearly see, she’s fighting that battle with humour, honesty, and an irrepressible spark that makes her one of the jungle’s most compelling personalities this year.