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Tuesday, 12 August 2008

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Ruby Wax: My mum was obsessed with straight lines

Comedian happy to joke about mental illness

Comic Ruby Wax lives in London with her TV director husband Ed Bye and their 3 children

Ruby Wax says she uses her family's experience with depression in her stand-up routines.

The comedian's mum was mentally ill and obsessed with straight lines.

Once, when her nan fell down the stairs, Ruby's mum moved her so she was parallel to the wall.

'My mother was depressed but would never go to a doctor,' she tells The Times.

'I didn't know she was crazy. All I knew at the time was that it was good material.'

Ruby, 55, says her mum also used to wrap everything in plastic at their home in Illinois.