The stand-up comedian, actor, writer, political campaigner and fashion icon is currently on the road with his Force Majeure tour, which has visited 25 countries, five continents, and as it arrives to Australian shores in late January, will be in its 34th month.

Not content with the rigorous touring schedule as enough of a challenge, Izzard included a stint each in France and Germany where he performed the show in the native language.

"If you go and play in France and speak French, they can't just go 'well he's just some idiot'. The Germans can't go 'oh I don't really care about that guy' – they've got to sort of pay attention cause you've learnt the bloody language," he says.

On top of German and French, Izzard has just started learning Spanish, and is about add Russian and Arabic to the mix.

But he dismisses the idea that he's "one of those people" who can just pick up languages.

"My theory is that human beings are 'those people' that can just pick up languages. What I think I have is a determination to do it and a will to do it," he says.

"You could take someone who is suddenly dropped in another country surrounded by another language – they would pick up that other language because of necessity. So I just want to learn it – that's the difference. I don't think I have a facility to do it."

Eddie has been tweaking the show as he's been going during the almost three years, resulting in the version for Australian audiences which he claims: "If anyone doesn't like it, I think they don't like comedy".

But how does a single show translate across different countries and languages? Contrary to popular belief, Izzard says that comedy is comedy, no matter where you go.

"There's a whole theory of comedy that people generally have that they feel that there's an Arabic sense of humour a German sense of humour and so on," he says.

"It's your reference points that are national, not the sense of humour. If you explain what you're talking about and then make jokes about then everyone can get everything. That's the thing I think I've proved now – that humour is human and not national."

Izzard returns to Canberra for a show at Llewellyn Hall on February 7, and says he's keen to run around the capital – just another skill he discovered he had.

In 2009, Izzard completed the equivalent of 43 marathons in 51 days running around the United Kingdom and raising money, after a mere six weeks of training.

But running is at least one area that he agrees he has genetics to thank for.

"I think I'm genetically built to have stamina and to be able to take a pounding. I go into a film-like state – like my feet are not really attached to me," he says.

"I've got some hardiness built in. I can just go on and on and on."

Eddie Izzard is playing at Llewellyn Hall on February 7 at 8pm. Tickets from ticketek.com.au.