Leda of the World - The Real Leda Fox

In the space of only a few years, Leda Fox has gone from being a frumpy, dumpy housewife to an internationally acclaimed self-help guru, appealing largely to middle-aged women who find themselves disillusioned with life and want to "turn back time and have another go!" Her personal transformation has inspired many and she travels and lectures extensively promoting her message of "change" and "resurrection". Her e-book "The Butterfly Plan" is breaking online sales records.

Leda Fox

Home:

 Somewhere in the rainforest of Queensland, Australia, although she often calls New York her spiritual home.

Family:

 Leda is married (2nd marriage) and has five children ranging in age from 4 to 22 years.

Favourite colour:

 Purple.

Turning point in her life:

Leda hit rock bottom after the birth of her last child when she suffered from post-natal depression. She had put on a lot of weight and realised that she had a drinking problem which compounded all her problems. She was broke and her marriage and family life were under strain. She came up with "The Butterfly Plan"- a forty day "time in the desert, under the Bohdi tree, in the Ark" and in that short time she was able to realise how important "balance" was to get herself back on track. She lost the weight, the depression and the addictions and reinvented herself as "the purple guru".

Favourite movie:

"Witches of Eastwick"

Favourite song:

Nessun Dorma 

Inspirational heroes:

"Mother Theresa for her humility and compassion.

Oprah Winfrey for her generosity and vision.

Angelina Jolie for her relentless puruit of motherhood!

Queen Elizabeth 1 for kicking butt!

My family for putting up with me.

Son Toby for his sense of humour. 

Rosa Parks for her strength."

Most beneficial change one can make to one's life:

Leda often says that the most important thing is to "Realise that you are "making up" your own life as you go along. If you don't like the script, change it!"

Greatest achievement:

 Finding true love.

Greatest regret:

"Like Edith Piaf, I have no regrets."

Most overated thing in the world:

"Schools and Universities!"

Three wishes:

"To see my children live deeply fulfilling lives.

To still be having sex with my husband at the age of 120.

To see humankind take off their blinkers and "get it"....most of this world lives in a crazy haze of fultility."

Favourite food:

A really good, spicy chickpea curry.

Unlikely hobby:

Collecting 'Catholic' paraphernalia. "I was brought up by the Sisters of Mercy and although I am not a practicing Catholic, the incense and sombre ritual and daunting statues have haunted me into adulthood. My dining room is a shrine to that part of my history. The kitchen is Buddhist. The living room is a tribal jungle and my bedroom is full of Elizabethan pomp!"

Fears:

"I don't believe in them. Pointless and dangerous."

If you had to swap places with someone for one day, who would it be?

"God! No, really - a newborn baby. That would be a really interesting perspective."

Best moment:

"Climbing to the top of Mount Everest. (It was a dream but it felt so real!)"

Worst moment:

"The day before I began my personal 40 day Butterfly Plan. I felt that I was worthless and that I had let myself and everyone around me, down, by being such a waste of space."

 Goals for the future:

"I am currently working on The Butterfly Plan for Children. I have a screenplay that is itching to get onto the screen. I'm looking at an Academy Award and after I finish having lots of fun, I might hang up the purple wig and run for Prime Minister of Australia."