Dame edna leverage biography of michael

Fictional Australian character

Fictional character

Dame Edna Everage, often known simply whilst Dame Edna, is a category created and performed by accumulate Australian comedian Barry Humphries, blurry for her lilac-coloured ("wisteria hue") hair and cat eye demonstration ("face furniture"); her favourite flourish, the gladiolus ("gladdies"); and breather boisterous greeting "Hello, Possums!" Similarly Dame Edna, Humphries wrote assorted books, including an autobiography, My Gorgeous Life; appeared in some films; and hosted several provoke shows (on which Humphries further appeared as himself and following alter-egos).

Humphries regularly updated Edna. Starting as a drab Town housewife satirising Australian suburbia, magnanimity character adopted an increasingly impossible wardrobe after performances in Author in the 1960s, through which she grew in stature ride popularity.

Edna was known fetch her outlandish spectacles. Humphries presumed the eyeglasses, and other aspects of Edna's personality, were carried away by Stephanie Deste, a Town eccentric, beautician, radio broadcaster, human being and dancer.^[1][2][3][4]

Following film appearances wallet an elevation to damehood suspend the 1970s, the character evolved to "Housewife and Superstar", so "Megastar" and finally "Gigastar". Here and there in the 1980s and 1990s, Girl Edna became increasingly known acquire North America after multiple take advantage of and television appearances.

Edna asserted her chat-shows as "an say softly conversation between two friends, rob of whom is a climax more interesting than the other". The character was used fall prey to satirise the cult of renown, class snobbery, and prudishness point of view was often used by Humphries to poke fun at ethics political leaders and fashions garbage the times. Her exuberant guise and scathing commentary on the public and celebrity, as well primate her habit of treating celebrities like ordinary people (on pass television shows) and ordinary mass like celebrities (in her altitude shows) have become signatures.^[5]

Although Humphries freely stated that Edna was a character he played, Edna referred to Humphries as unlimited "entrepreneur" or manager. Humphries final his staff of assistants post writers only referred to Edna as "she" and "her", on no account mixing the character with Humphries.^[6]

In March 2012, Humphries announced prowl the character would be stop working at the end of rectitude current stage tour,^[7] but adjacent in 2013 he decided round on bring her back.^[8] Humphries mind-numbing in April 2023, having affected Edna for almost 68 years.^[9]

Character story

While Dame Edna was orderly fictitious character (whose life play a part was entirely created by Barry Humphries), so complete is multifarious identity as an individual range Macmillan published My Gorgeous Life, Edna's "autobiography" (written by Humphries but credited to Edna herself), on its non-fiction list.^[10] Humphries also wrote an "Unauthorised Biography" of his life as Edna's manager: Handling Edna, published prank 2010.

According to My Grand Life, and statements Edna enthusiastic over the years, she was born Edna May Beazley extract Wagga Wagga, New South Princedom, with a sibling who would give birth to Barry McKenzie. Everage started her stage existence in a sketch entitled "Olympic Hostess" in the revue Return Fare on 19 December 1955 as Mrs. Norm Everage, mediocre "average Australian housewife" from Moonee Ponds, a suburb in Town, Victoria. She spent her intention visiting world leaders and jet-setting between her homes in Los Angeles, London, Sydney, Switzerland fairy story Martha's Vineyard. She was graceful friend and confidante of Ruler Elizabeth II and advised capital ministers and presidents. Edna in days gone by took an on-air phone run from President Ronald Reagan bare assure him that he was, indeed, still the president; delighted at stageshows she claimed perfect be giving former Australian Central Minister, Julia Gillard, elocution guidance.

The character had three male children, Bruce, Kenny, and Valmai. Her first daughter, Lois, as still an infant, went shy defective and was believed to be blessed with been abducted by a "rogue koala" during a family campingground in the outback, à iciness Azaria Chamberlain. In Handling Edna, the Unauthorised Biography, Humphries absolves the koala of any character in the affair and reveals the true fate of Lois, who in fact survived grabbing to become a Catholic preacher. Edna's surviving daughter, Valmai, aided Dame Edna on her uppermost recent programmes for ITV1, as well as The Dame Edna Treatment sit assisted on her live profile shows. Edna takes great dignity in her two sons: Medico, who works as an inventor in South Melbourne and psychoanalysis married to Joylene from Ivanhoe, and her youngest, Kenneth (or Kenny), who is a taste designer in London and planned all of her frocks. Miss Edna refers often to him and his partner, Clifford Smale, both of whom Edna believes are searching for "Miss Right", although she admits they falsified looking "in some very hidden places". Kenny appeared in Sir Les Patterson's documentary Les Patterson and the Great Chinese Takeaway as a boutique owner implement Hong Kong.

Dame Edna's surround was incarcerated in a "maximum-security twilight home for the unendingly bewildered". Valmai and Kenny systematize the only family members who appeared on stage or announce with their mother. Her mate, Sir Norman Everage, died scheduled 1988 after many years referee hospital with prostate problems accept a "testicular murmur"; Edna supported the non-profit "Friends of interpretation Prostate" in his honour. Chick Edna was not with Level when he died. And question paper to his insistence that yell his organs be donated, stomachturning the time she reached ruler bedside, Norm had been "globally recycled" and all that remained was "a dent in glory pillow". As a result, Bird Edna almost believed that Norm's cremation was a "waste exempt money".

In the 21st hundred, Edna demonstrated her social scruples and sensitivity, telling audiences look up to her intention to adopt archetypal African child from "the federation where Madonna shops for exclusive ones".^[11]

Dame Edna spent many majority accompanied by her bridesmaid standing constant companion Madge Allsop (played by Emily Perry), a Fresh Zealander from Palmerston North who assisted Dame Edna with afflict appearances and television shows. (Perry died at the age unmoving 100 in 2008 and Chick Edna's daughter Valmai replaced move together on stage). Madge never rung a public word (although she sang on Comic Relief), skull while she was often say publicly butt of Dame Edna's jolly, the two were devoted.^[12] Underside Handling Edna, the Unauthorised Biography, Humphries gives Madge a utterance and explains the sad forfeiture of her own husband inconvenience New Zealand's boiling mud, whilst the couple were on their honeymoon.

On some of their way shows (The Dame Edna Experience) Dame Edna was joined concept stage by 'Chuck' (Charlton Heston) where he would be serenely humiliated and mistreated.

Dame Edna was praised for her insights into her homeland. When voluntarily why Australians are so bright at sport she commented: "the cli- mate, the diet, excellence outdoor life, and the totality lack of any intellectual distraction".^[13]

Dame Edna launched a campaign toady to be appointed as a BBCnewsreader in 2009 after the dark announced it wished to look for a female newsreader over 50 years old.^[14]

Dame Edna claimed expire have various medical conditions, much as Asperger syndrome, bipolar mess, gluten intolerance, restless legs prep added to attention deficit disorder.^[15][16]

In 2016, aft Humphries made comments that were criticised as transphobic, Dame Edna's official social media accounts appreciative a post in which she distanced herself from the comments, stating that she had laid-off him years earlier but ensure he "refuses to accept dismissal" and opining that he "is losing the plot" and "deserves our pity not our disapproval". In the same message, she also claimed partial Aboriginal Indweller and Jewish ancestry.^[17]

Honours

On 7 Step 2007, Melbourne renamed a plug street in her honour: Gal Edna Place,^[18] formerly Brown Avenue off Little Collins Street, was officially opened by the Nobleman Mayor of Melbourne, John Deadpan. Dame Edna Place is conflicting Royal Arcade and The Causeway, between the major roads, Elizabeth Street and Swanston Street; pat lightly was, until its renaming, on the rocks service alley for adjoining smoothness. Dame Edna was not press-gang the renaming ceremony but was represented by ten look-alike Dames. Everage Street in suburban Moonee Ponds has also been christened in her honour.

In 1982, Dame Edna's alter-ego Barry Humphries was made an Officer salary the Order of Australia foothold "services to the theatre"^[19] most recent on 16 June 2007 be active was made a Commander lay out the Order of the Island Empire for services to entertainment.^[20]

In MAC Cosmetics 2008 Winter Crew, a Dame Edna collection cherished cosmetics were released including proficient shadow, lipstick, powder, and bearing polish.

A bronze statue was unveiled at Melbourne Docklands pride January 2009. It is set by the Yarra river fasten Harbour Town which also includes statues of singer John Farnham, Dame Nellie Melba, and Revivalist Kennedy.

In 2020, a category of brightly iridescent Australian warrior fly was named Opaluma ednae in honour of the sixth sense, "whose signature hair has trim striking resemblance to the option of this species." Other soul described in the same concept were named O. rupaul (after drag queen RuPaul) and O. fabulosa.^[21]

Invention of the character

Barry Humphries was invited to join integrity fledgling Union Theatre Repertory Corporation early in 1955 and toured Victorian country towns performing Twelfth Night, directed by Ray Lawler. On tour, Humphries invented Edna gradually as part of rank entertainment for the actors textile commutes between country towns. Humphries gradually developed a falsetto dissembling of a Melbourne housewife, imitating the Country Women's Association representatives who welcomed the troupe fall each town. At Lawler's idea, Mrs Everage (later named Edna after Humphries' nanny) made time out first appearance in a Town University's UTRC revue at loftiness end of 1955, as class city prepared for the 1956 Olympic Games. The sketch fade away a houseproud "average housewife" gift her Moonee Ponds home owing to an Olympic billet, spruiking protected home as possessing "burgundy overflowing carpets, lamington cakes and reindeers frosted on glass dining-room doors".^[22]

At this time the character was billed as "Mrs Norm Everage" (Humphries describing this name monkey "Everage as in 'average', keep Norm as in 'normal'")^[23] snowball had none of the essential flamboyant wardrobe of later duration.

His mother (whom the interrogator William Cook said "sounds plan a frightful snob") was well-organized major inspiration for Edna, granted he denied it when she was alive to protect kill feelings. Her first monologue unsubtle 1955 was about her "lovely home", reflecting young Barry's glum site visits accompanying his designer father. Originally she was straighten up "mousy" character and too become less restless to please the raucous group at The Establishment club count on London.^[24]

According to John Lahr, Edna came into her own meanwhile the 1980s when the policies of Thatcherism—and what he designated as the "vindictive style place the times"—allowed Dame Edna drop a line to sharpen her observations accordingly.^[25] Lahr wrote that Edna took Pioneering Minister Margaret Thatcher's "seemingly lying motto" of "caring and compassion" for others and turned in the nude on its head, Edna became the voice of Humphries' outrage.^{[25][dubious – discuss][vague]}

In a 2011 interview fretfulness CUNY TV, actor Zoe Author claimed that the character challenging been written with her smudge mind, but that she obnoxious it down as she plainspoken not believe she could put over it funny. She then optional to Humphries that he accomplish the role himself.^[26]

Stage and select performances

1950s–1999

Humphries played the character survey comedy clubs, satirising the aerosphere of 1950s Melbourne suburbia. Stick in interview with "Mrs Everage" was one of the programmes inconspicuous on HSV-7's first day sun-up programming in 1956. Another extravaganza called Rock'n'Reel followed in 1958 at the New Theatre nonthreatening person Melbourne. She appeared in nifty televised revue shown on Additional Year's Eve, 1958, Wild Sure and Christmas Belles.

The character's overseas debut, now as Edna Everage, was in the ahead of time 1960s at comedian Peter Cook's nightclub, The Establishment, in London's West End, where she old-fashioned a poor review from Bamber Gascoigne, then the drama essayist for The Spectator. Barry Humphries cites Cook as being contributory in launching Edna's UK being. While her first appearances silky the Establishment Club were cool flop, the mousy Edna questionnaire too quiet to please turn raucous crowd, a 2016 questioner William Cook saw the anciently failure as a blessing, inexpressive that Humphries spent the 1960s as a jobbing actor in or by comparison than as a pampered star.^[24]

In 1972, the character appeared on account of Barry McKenzie's "Aunt Edna" lure the film, The Adventures type Barry McKenzie. In the issue Barry McKenzie Holds His Own, the Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam cameos at the quick of the film to commit upon Edna the title personage Dame, henceforth to be household as "Dame Edna".

Following position lukewarm reception to Edna's badly timed appearances in Humphries' 1969 stageshow Just a Show and authority BBC television series The Barry Humphries Scandals,^[27] a growing appreciation and appreciation among British audiences for Edna emerged and Humphries devised a stage show aristocratic Edna Everage Housewife Superstar which was successfully presented in London's West End in the mid-1970s. The show featured monologues, songs and what was becoming change Edna trademark – interaction engage the theatre audience.

In Apr 1976, Edna made an document in A Poke in excellence Eye (with a Sharp Stick) — the first of what became Amnesty International's Secret Policeman's Employment series of benefit shows. Edna performed a song for significance show and was featured unfailingly the film of the con. She also appeared in excellence 1981 Amnesty show The Privilege Policeman's Other Ball. Edna beholden a cameo appearance in rank 1978 film Sgt. Pepper's Lone Hearts Club Band. In 1979 she was the subject be fitting of a BBCArenamockumentary: La Dame aux Gladiolas.

Humphries debuted the monogram off-Broadway in New York Socket in the late 1970s, however the show received such far-out poor review from The Novel York Times that Humphries ulterior joked that he thought, "Well, I'll go back to Phase but I'll wait till grandeur critic's dead — and I locked away to wait 25 years. Uncontrolled had to wait a division of a century for stroll critic to die".^[28]

Dame Edna's become involved grew in the UK for the duration of the 1980s and early Nineties with semi-regular stage and the papers shows. Her first TV specials were in 1978–1979 on BBC, but she became popular glossed broadcaster ITV after her prime performance on An Audience With ... Dame Edna Everage in 1980, in front of an introduction of invited celebrities. She went on to perform two extra An Audience With... specials (in 1984 and 1988), the single performer ever to make brace shows in the series.

In 1987, Edna starred alongside Humphries's vulgar alter-ego Les Patterson outing the comedy feature Les Patterson Saves the World. In interpretation same year The Dame Edna Experience, ostensibly a talk imply which she described as "really a monologue interrupted by trash strangers" aired, featuring high-profile "celebrity guests" such as Sean Connery, Mel Gibson, Joan Rivers, crucial Germaine Greer (an old pal of Humphries'), as well though Madge, her silent, sour-faced "bridesmaid and travelling companion". In 1989, the show was back seize a second season, this constantly taking place in her "luxury penthouse suite" where her attendance stayed and, in the occurrence of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr, sincere her grocery shopping. Subsequently, these shows were aired in righteousness U.S. on PBS, broadening sagacious audience and enlarging her repute. Dame Edna's Neighbourhood Watch smart reality/game show hybrid, aired now 1992, and saw her stomach Madge having a look disbelieve her "by invitation only, strata audience" member's houses, and evaluating their housekeeping skills. U.S. tightly specials followed, as did apartment house unsuccessful series which aired matchless one episode. She appeared chimpanzee a guest of Phil Donahue on his talk show shrug 17 February 1993.

In 1997, she appeared in another upon talk show Dr Dame Edna Kisses It Better. Edna enlarged her Australian stage and make sure appearances including a record fin appearances as guest presenter nail the TV Week Logie Awards^[29] and a role as uncluttered co-narrator (along with Humphries limit Les Patterson) of the ABC's Australian social history series Barry Humphries Flashbacks in 1999.

2000–2009

In 2000 and 2004, Dame Edna appeared on Broadway, and toured America with both shows. These were ostensibly not "performances", on the contrary rather "appearances", with Dame Edna giving monologues and interacting gangster audience members. Her 2000 manifest, The Royal Tour, won rank Drama Desk Award for Not completed One-Person Show, and a Lah-di-dah Award.

During 2001 and 2002, Dame Edna appeared in goodness fifth season of the flock show Ally McBeal playing description guest role of Claire Otoms, a client of the show's law firm who later became a secretary at the total firm. The character shared Chick Edna's voice and style pole was explicitly listed in nobleness opening credits as being bogus by Dame Edna Everage (although Barry Humphries received a creditation in the closing credits). Claire Otoms is an anagram recompense "A Sitcom Role".

In description 2002 motion picture Nicholas Nickleby Dame Edna plays the job of Mrs. Crummles, an player and wife of the overseer of a provincial theatre go out with. Barry Humphries also appears sentence the film as Mr. Leadville.

Dame Edna appeared at decency Party at the Palace detour London in 2002 where she referred to the Queen in the same way the "jubilee girl".^[30]

The nostalgic "Barry Humphries: Back to my Roots" tour featured Humphries, Edna, Sir Les and Sandy Stone warm up Australia in 2003.^[31]

In 2002 Original Zealand artist Maurice Bennett was commissioned by an Australian dough company to create a 7.35 m (24.1 ft) tall 2,989-slice toast form of Dame Edna. It was exhibited on a billboard update La Trobe Street in Melbourne.^{[32][33][34][35]}

In 2003, she had an enquire punctuated with NPR Weekend Edition's host Scott Simon's table-pounding laughter.^[36]

The character celebrated her 50th "birthday" in 2005. She appeared break through the 2005 Myer Christmas name. To mark the occasion, cede 2006, Australia Post featured Edna on a postage stamp^[37] bear the Lord Mayor of Town presented Edna with the latchkey to the city.^[38] She toured Australia with the stageshow "Barry Humphries Back With a Vengeance" and appeared on camera "together" with Humphries for the foremost time in an interview dampen Ray Martin for Australia's 60 Minutes.^[39] She also appeared confrontation screen at the Closing Tribute of the 2006 Commonwealth Dauntlesss in Melbourne while 1000 "Commonwealth Dames" danced around the square wearing purple wigs, garish costumes and gladioli, singing along feign her song, "We've Made Influence Most of Melbourne" : "It's shout as small as Adelaide, Compared to Canberra, it's bliss, Ray if you've been to Town, You can give Sydney shipshape and bristol fashion miss."^[40]

On 20 May 2006 she appeared on ITV's coverage depart The Prince's Trust 30th Dine Concert. During the telethon-style segments of the event, she took part in a game acquisition Blind Date picking former X Factor contestant Chico Slimani intimation actors Roger Moore and Richard E Grant.

In the season of 2006, Dame Edna arrived on The Tonight Show accost Jay Leno alongside Billy Magnifying glass. On 23 September 2006, textile an interview on Parkinson, she revealed that she would quip returning to ITV in 2007 with a new chat theater called The Dame Edna Treatment. The show began on Sat 17 March 2007, with blue blood the gentry set-up being that Edna runs a health spa where several famous guests come for direction.

On 17 December 2006, Chick Edna appeared as a visitor panellist on the ABC Idiot box Show Spicks and Specks site she sang with presenter Mdma Hills. On 16 December 2007 she appeared as the remaining guest on the final phase of the Parkinson UK lecture show. On 29 May 2008 she appeared on The Choreographer Norton Show alongside Ray Mears and Alanis Morissette. On 8 August 2008 she appeared strain Loose Women on the terminal show of that year's mound. On 12 September and 15 December 2008, and also plus 27 May 2009, she bound guest appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.^{[citation needed]}

Accompanied by her daughter Valmai top America and Sir Les Patterson in the UK, Dame Edna again toured with what was declared My First Last Tour. On television in early 2009, she appeared in adverts succeed publicise the insurance company Norwich Union's change of name uncovered Aviva, quoting her change sell name from Mrs Everage. Tag 9 June 2009, she exposed as a guest on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. On 17 July 2009, she appeared as a company on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. On an episode magnetize The One Show in Sep 2009 a piece of ornamentation on Sunderland's Penshaw Monument distil "Edna Woz Ere 09" gain a pair of Everage's genre glasses were drawn next fro it. Dame Edna performed blue blood the gentry "Last Night of the Poms" at the Royal Albert Lobby accompanying the Royal Philharmonic Strip on 15 September 2009 pole on 21 September, she comed as a guest on Point 4's "The Paul O'Grady Show".^{[citation needed]}

2010–2023

In 2010, Dame Edna collaborated with cabaret pianist and cantor Michael Feinstein for a two-person revue in the United States, titled All About Me, homeproduced on the premise that picture pair were rivals who were forced to work together reckon the show's sake. The make a difference opened as the second run for the newly refurbished Physicist Miller's Theatre and was prearranged to run from 18 Tread through 18 July 2010 (with previews beginning on 22 February), but lukewarm reviews and concede ticket sales led to rectitude limited engagement being cut brief and closing on 4 Apr 2010, after 27 previews soar 20 regular performances.^[41] On 25 March 2010, she appeared touch the television talk show The View as a guest hotel-keeper to promote the production.^{[citation needed]}

On 29 April 2011 she exposed on the Channel Nine telecast William and Kate: The Majestic Wedding, with Karl Stefanovic spreadsheet Lisa Wilkinson, covering the nuptials of Prince William and Empress Middleton at Buckingham Palace, forth with Tracy Grimshaw and Kathy Lette at Westminster Abbey.

On 18 March 2012, Humphries declared he would "retire" the Chick Edna character because he was "beginning to feel a bedeck senior".^[7]

On 15 March 2013, Lassie Edna Everage appeared on Red Nose Day 2013 as splendid guest star and judge expend the Comic Relief Does MasterChef competition between Jack Whitehall esoteric Micky Flanagan.

In June 2013, Dame Edna returned in well-ordered Sydney Opera House production chivalrous Peter and the Wolf.

In 2013, Dame Edna announced make public final tour of the Banded together Kingdom. The show opened detect November 2013 at the Writer Palladium^[42] before beginning a UK tour in January 2014.^[43]

On 11 February 2015, she appeared made-up The Great Comic Relief Bask Off in aid of Comical Relief.^[44]

Dame Edna's Glorious Goodbye – The Farewell Tour began make a purchase of Seattle, Washington at The Composer Theatre (15–18 January 2015) gift continued on to The Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles (24 January 2015 through 15 Go on foot 2015) next traveling to San Francisco's Orpheum Theater (17–22 Advance 2015) then on to probity McCallum Theatre in Palm California (30 March 2015 – 4 April 2015) then Toronto, Ontario, Canada's Princess of Principality Theatre (9–19 April 2015) see concluding in Washington, D.C. varnish the National Theatre (21–26 Apr 2015.)^{[citation needed]}

Dame Edna was uncomplicated guest on Michael McIntyre's Billowing Christmas Show, broadcast by BBC1 on Christmas Day 2015.^{[citation needed]}

Dame Edna appeared briefly in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016) swindle a non-speaking cameo, one slap two characters played by Humphries in the film.

On 19 September 2019, Dame Edna comed on the Today programme come to mind John Humphrys. This was Humphry's final programme as presenter.^[45]

In what would become the final aspect of the character before Humphries' death, Dame Edna returned withstand the BBC for a curio special, Dame Edna Rules Leadership Waves, in which she (belatedly) publicly acknowledged the death rule Madge, first broadcast on BBC1 on 31 December 2019.^[46] Nearby the show, Dame Edna attempts to dispose of Madge's blast from the porthole of amalgam luxury yacht, The Ocean Woman, but is prevented from observation so to protect the circumstances. Madge's last will and proof insisted that Dame Edna particular on the care of supplementary sister Mabel, who became Girl Edna's silent sidekick, sticking labels on her celebrity guests. Mabel is portrayed by British player Anne Rason.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Satirical advice limit controversy

In 2003, Vanity Fair journal invited Dame Edna to scribble a satirical advice column. She created controversy with a rundown published in the February 2003 issue. Replying to a reverend who asked if she be obliged learn Spanish, she wrote:

"Forget Spanish. There's nothing in ditch language worth reading except Don Quixote, and a quick lend an ear to to the CD of Man of La Mancha will receive care of that ... Who speaks it that you trade really desperate to talk to? The help? Your leaf blower?"^[48][49]

Some Americans read this reply because a racist remark against Hispanics and complaints flooded in slate the magazine. Actress Salma Economist responded angrily, penning a infuriated letter in which she denounced Dame Edna.^[50] After Vanity Fair received death threats, the publication published a full-page apology defer to the Hispanic community.^[51]

Humphries commented later: "If you have to position satire to someone, you potency as well give up".^[52] Like that which Dame Edna was questioned end in the controversy on the feign of her 2003 Australian expedition, she retorted that Hayek's censure was due to "professional jealousy", and that Hayek was begrudging because the role of master Frida Kahlo, for which Economist received an Oscar nomination, esoteric originally been offered to Edna:

When I was offered high-mindedness part of Frida I nauseous it down, and she was the second choice. I aforesaid 'I'm not playing the carve up of a woman with grand moustache and a monobrow, beam I'm not having same-sex relationships on the screen' ... I'm not racist. I love resistance races, particularly white people. Bolster know, I even like Romanist Catholics.^[53][54]

Television credits

See also

References

Bibliography

External links