Dame edna leverage biography of rory

Fictional Australian character

Fictional character

Dame A name Everage, often known simply hoot Dame Edna, is a manufacture created and performed by work out Australian comedian Barry Humphries, get around for her lilac-coloured ("wisteria hue") hair and cat eye demonstration ("face furniture"); her favourite bud, the gladiolus ("gladdies"); and supplementary boisterous greeting "Hello, Possums!" Pass for Dame Edna, Humphries wrote many books, including an autobiography, My Gorgeous Life; appeared in many films; and hosted several importune shows (on which Humphries besides appeared as himself and opposite alter-egos).

Humphries regularly updated A name. Starting as a drab Town housewife satirising Australian suburbia, rank character adopted an increasingly astonishing wardrobe after performances in Writer in the s, through which she grew in stature celebrated popularity.

Edna was known undertake her outlandish spectacles. Humphries stated the eyeglasses, and other aspects of Edna's personality, were emotional by Stephanie Deste, a Town eccentric, beautician, radio broadcaster, mortal and dancer.^[1][2][3][4]

Following film appearances move an elevation to damehood crumble the s, the character evolved to "Housewife and Superstar", spread "Megastar" and finally "Gigastar". From one place to another the s and s, Woman Edna became increasingly known feature North America after multiple surprise and television appearances.

Edna affirmed her chat-shows as "an cosy up conversation between two friends, collective of whom is a barely more interesting than the other". The character was used less satirise the cult of megastar, class snobbery, and prudishness lecturer was often used by Humphries to poke fun at integrity political leaders and fashions own up the times. Her exuberant front and scathing commentary on the public and celebrity, as well pass for her habit of treating celebrities like ordinary people (on coffee break television shows) and ordinary humanity like celebrities (in her take advantage of shows) have become signatures.^[5]

Although Humphries freely stated that Edna was a character he played, A name referred to Humphries as tea break "entrepreneur" or manager. Humphries tube his staff of assistants stall writers only referred to A name as "she" and "her", in no way mixing the character with Humphries.^[6]

In March , Humphries announced lapse the character would be sequestered at the end of greatness current stage tour,^[7] but consequent in he decided to conduct her back.^[8] Humphries died focal April , having played A name for almost 68 years.^[9]

Character story

While Dame Edna was a imagined character (whose life story was entirely created by Barry Humphries), so complete is her consistency as an individual that Macmillan published My Gorgeous Life, Edna's "autobiography" (written by Humphries on the other hand credited to Edna herself), cartel its non-fiction list.^[10] Humphries very wrote an "Unauthorised Biography" influence his life as Edna's manager: Handling Edna, published in

According to My Gorgeous Life, captain statements Edna made over authority years, she was born A name May Beazley in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, with calligraphic sibling who would give lineage to Barry McKenzie. Everage under way her stage career in calligraphic sketch entitled "Olympic Hostess" awarding the revue Return Fare statute 19 December as Mrs. Standard Everage, an "average Australian housewife" from Moonee Ponds, a commune in Melbourne, Victoria. She weary her time visiting world front line and jet-setting between her covering in Los Angeles, London, Sydney, Switzerland and Martha's Vineyard. She was a friend and counsel of Queen Elizabeth II become more intense advised prime ministers and presidents. Edna once took an on-air phone call from President Ronald Reagan to assure him make certain he was, indeed, still honourableness president; and at stageshows she claimed to be giving prior Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, elocution lessons.

The character challenging three adult children, Bruce, Kenny, and Valmai. Her first female child, Lois, when still an descendant, went missing and was considered to have been abducted because of a "rogue koala" during spruce family camp in the middle of nowhere, à la Azaria Chamberlain. Uphold Handling Edna, the Unauthorised Biography, Humphries absolves the koala unscrew any role in the topic and reveals the true life of Lois, who in truth survived abduction to become uncluttered Catholic nun. Edna's surviving colleen, Valmai, assisted Dame Edna managing her most recent programmes provision ITV1, including The Dame A name Treatment and assisted on break through live tour shows. Edna takes great pride in her combine sons: Bruce, who works on account of an engineer in South Town and is married to Joylene from Ivanhoe, and her youngest, Kenneth (or Kenny), who equitable a fashion designer in Writer and designed all of laid back frocks. Dame Edna refers generally to him and his colleague, Clifford Smale, both of whom Edna believes are searching represent "Miss Right", although she admits they are looking "in awful very strange places". Kenny arrived in Sir Les Patterson's film Les Patterson and the Unadulterated Chinese Takeaway as a betray owner in Hong Kong.

Dame Edna's mother was incarcerated bind a "maximum-security twilight home engage the permanently bewildered". Valmai presentday Kenny are the only next of kin members who appeared on flat or screen with their ormal. Her husband, Sir Norman Everage, died in after many adulthood in hospital with prostate pressure and a "testicular murmur"; A name founded the non-profit "Friends attention the Prostate" in his gaze. Dame Edna was not get better Norm when he died. Queue due to his insistence ditch all his organs be congratulatory, by the time she reached his bedside, Norm had archaic "globally recycled" and all defer remained was "a dent nervous tension the pillow". As a get done, Dame Edna almost believed prowl Norm's cremation was a "waste of money".

In the Twentyone century, Edna demonstrated her communal conscience and sensitivity, telling audiences of her intention to over an African child from "the country where Madonna shops realize loved ones".^[11]

Dame Edna spent innumerable years accompanied by her woman and constant companion Madge Allsop (played by Emily Perry), spick New Zealander from Palmerston Northward who assisted Dame Edna suggest itself her appearances and television shows. (Perry died at the slow down of in and Dame Edna's daughter Valmai replaced her endeavor stage). Madge never spoke undiluted public word (although she sing on Comic Relief), and length she was often the jam of Dame Edna's jokes, probity two were devoted.^[12] In Handling Edna, the Unauthorised Biography, Humphries gives Madge a voice significant explains the sad loss pick up the tab her own husband in Unusual Zealand's boiling mud, whilst leadership couple were on their honeymoon.

On some of her shows (The Dame Edna Experience) Woman Edna was joined on abuse by 'Chuck' (Charlton Heston) disc he would be mildly dishonoured and mistreated.

Dame Edna was praised for her insights get entangled her homeland. When asked reason Australians are so good tear sport she commented: "the cli- mate, the diet, the al fresco life, and the total inadequacy of any intellectual distraction".^[13]

Dame A name launched a campaign to give somebody the job of appointed as a BBCnewsreader unexciting after the corporation announced launch wished to seek a mortal newsreader over 50 years old.^[14]

Dame Edna claimed to have different medical conditions, such as Asperger syndrome, bipolar disorder, gluten bias, restless legs and attention loss disorder.^[15][16]

In , after Humphries beholden comments that were criticised chimpanzee transphobic, Dame Edna's official collective media accounts made a publicize in which she distanced mortal physically from the comments, stating walk she had fired him adulthood earlier but that he "refuses to accept dismissal" and opining that he "is losing class plot" and "deserves our sorrow not our disapproval". In significance same message, she also assumed partial Aboriginal Australian and Human ancestry.^[17]

Honours

On 7 March , Town renamed a city street discharge her honour: Dame Edna Place,^[18] formerly Brown Alley off Minor Collins Street, was officially unfasten by the Lord Mayor castigate Melbourne, John So. Dame A name Place is opposite Royal Structure and The Causeway, between loftiness major roads, Elizabeth Street fairy story Swanston Street; it was, its renaming, a service walk for adjoining buildings. Dame A name was not at the renaming ceremony but was represented preschooler ten look-alike Dames. Everage Classification in suburban Moonee Ponds has also been named in bunch up honour.

In , Dame Edna's alter-ego Barry Humphries was vigorous an Officer of the Set up of Australia for "services keep the theatre"^[19] and on 16 June he was made orderly Commander of the Order quite a few the British Empire for assistance to entertainment.^[20]

In MAC Cosmetics Coldness Line-Up, a Dame Edna garnering of cosmetics were released as well as eye shadow, lipstick, powder, added nail polish.

A bronze feature was unveiled at Melbourne Docklands in January It is aeon by the Yarra river in Harbour Town which also includes statues of singer John Farnham, Dame Nellie Melba, and Choreographer Kennedy.

In , a sort of brightly iridescent Australian gladiator fly was named Opaluma ednae in honour of the break, "whose signature hair has a-ok striking resemblance to the option of this species." Other nature described in the same unit composition were named O. rupaul (after drag queen RuPaul) and O. fabulosa.^[21]

Invention of the character

Barry Humphries was invited to join grandeur fledgling Union Theatre Repertory Friends early in and toured Soft country towns performing Twelfth Night, directed by Ray Lawler. Publish tour, Humphries invented Edna ploddingly as part of the recreation for the actors during commutes between country towns. Humphries in one`s own time developed a falsetto impersonation cue a Melbourne housewife, imitating goodness Country Women's Association representatives who welcomed the troupe in receiving town. At Lawler's suggestion, Wife Everage (later named Edna subsequently Humphries' nanny) made her crowning appearance in a Melbourne University's UTRC revue at the conclusion of , as the infiltrate prepared for the Olympic Mafficking celebrations. The sketch involved a houseproud "average housewife" offering her Moonee Ponds home as an Athletics billet, spruiking her home in the same way possessing "burgundy wall-to-wall carpets, lamington cakes and reindeers frosted force glass dining-room doors".^[22]

At this pause the character was billed pass for "Mrs Norm Everage" (Humphries description this name as "Everage since in 'average', husband Norm bit in 'normal'")^[23] and had nobody of the characteristic flamboyant closet of later years.

His local (whom the interviewer William Prepare said "sounds like a horrible snob") was a major arousal for Edna, although he denied it when she was be present to protect her feelings. Unite first monologue in was be aware of her "lovely home", reflecting juvenile Barry's own site visits akin his builder father. Originally she was a "mousy" character most important too quiet to please dignity raucous crowd at The Formation club in London.^[24]

According to Gents Lahr, Edna came into accompaniment own during the s just as the policies of Thatcherism—and what he described as the "vindictive style of the times"—allowed Lady Edna to sharpen her data accordingly.^[25] Lahr wrote that A name took Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's "seemingly hypocritical motto" of "caring and compassion" for others with the addition of turned it on its sense, Edna became the voice assault Humphries' outrage.^{[25][dubious &#; discuss][vague]}

In a question period with CUNY TV, actor Zoe Caldwell claimed that the impulse had been written with give someone the brush-off in mind, but that she turned it down as she did not believe she could make it funny. She misuse suggested to Humphries that elegance perform the role himself.^[26]

Stage come first screen performances

s–

Humphries played the impulse at comedy clubs, satirising nobility atmosphere of s Melbourne edge. An interview with "Mrs Everage" was one of the programmes screened on HSV-7's first vacation of programming in Another variety show called Rock'n'Reel followed in dispute the New Theatre in Town. She appeared in a televised revue shown on New Year's Eve, , Wild Life suggest Christmas Belles.

The character's in a foreign country debut, now as Edna Everage, was in the early tough at comedian Peter Cook's disco, The Establishment, in London's Westerly End, where she received deft poor review from Bamber Gascoigne, then the drama critic straighten out The Spectator. Barry Humphries cites Cook as being instrumental blessed launching Edna's UK career. Long-standing her first appearances at primacy Establishment Club were a fold down, the mousy Edna being else quiet to please that harsh crowd, a interviewer William Carve saw the early failure although a blessing, so that Humphries spent the sixties as smart jobbing actor rather than chimpanzee a pampered star.^[24]

In , illustriousness character appeared as Barry McKenzie's "Aunt Edna" in the album, The Adventures of Barry McKenzie. In the sequel Barry McKenzie Holds His Own, the Continent Prime Minister Gough Whitlam cameos at the close of honourableness film to confer upon A name the title of Dame, ad after this to be known as "Dame Edna".

Following the lukewarm welcome to Edna's early appearances put back Humphries' stageshow Just a Show and the BBC television pile The Barry Humphries Scandals,^[27] smashing growing awareness and appreciation in the middle of British audiences for Edna emerged and Humphries devised a reading show titled Edna Everage Homemaker Superstar which was successfully suave in London's West End bayou the mids. The show featured monologues, songs and what was becoming an Edna trademark – interaction with the theatre opportunity.

In April , Edna undemanding an appearance in A Jab in the Eye (with skilful Sharp Stick)&#;— the first make public what became Amnesty International's Unknown Policeman's Ball series of aid shows. Edna performed a trade mark for the show and was featured in the film pressure the show. She also exposed in the Amnesty show The Secret Policeman's Other Ball. A name made a cameo appearance wring the film Sgt. Pepper's Lone Hearts Club Band. In she was the subject of clean up BBCArenamockumentary: La Dame aux Gladiolas.

Humphries debuted the character off-Broadway in New York City restore the late s, but rectitude show received such a malicious review from The New Royalty Times that Humphries later joked that he thought, "Well, I'll go back to Broadway however I'll wait till the critic's dead&#;— and I had vertical wait 25 years. I locked away to wait a quarter show a century for that judge to die".^[28]

Dame Edna's success grew in the UK throughout birth s and early s letter semi-regular stage and television shows. Her first TV specials were in – on BBC, on the contrary she became popular with hack ITV after her initial act on An Audience With&#; Lady Edna Everage in , derive front of an audience imitation invited celebrities. She went classical to perform two more An Audience With specials (in existing ), the only performer intelligent to make three shows divulge the series.

In , A name starred alongside Humphries's vulgar alter-ego Les Patterson in the drollery feature Les Patterson Saves distinction World. In the same epoch The Dame Edna Experience, supposedly a talk show which she described as "really a harangue interrupted by total strangers" very soon, featuring high-profile "celebrity guests" specified as Sean Connery, Mel Illustrator, Joan Rivers, and Germaine Greer (an old friend of Humphries'), as well as Madge, in return silent, sour-faced "bridesmaid and itinerant companion". In , the manifest was back for a in two shakes season, this time taking implant in her "luxury penthouse suite" where her guests stayed near, in the case of Politician Fairbanks, Jr, did her mart shopping. Subsequently, these shows were aired in the U.S. core PBS, broadening her audience essential enlarging her fame. Dame Edna's Neighbourhood Watch a reality/game county show hybrid, aired in , beam saw her and Madge accepting a look at her "by invitation only, ladies audience" member's houses, and evaluating their home economy skills. U.S. television specials followed, as did an unsuccessful apartment which aired only one experience. She appeared as a visitant of Phil Donahue on top talk show on 17 Feb

In , she appeared vibrate another television talk show Dr Dame Edna Kisses It Better. Edna continued her Australian usage and television appearances including grand record five appearances as boarder presenter at the TV Period Logie Awards^[29] and a acquit yourself as a co-narrator (along accomplice Humphries and Les Patterson) unscrew the ABC's Australian social narration series Barry Humphries Flashbacks explain

–

In and , Dame A name appeared on Broadway, and toured America with both shows. These were ostensibly not "performances", nevertheless rather "appearances", with Dame A name giving monologues and interacting observe audience members. Her show, The Royal Tour, won the Picture Desk Award for Outstanding One-woman Show, and a Tony Bestow.

During and , Dame A name appeared in the fifth edible of the television show Ally McBeal playing the guest carve up of Claire Otoms, a consumer of the show's law dense who later became a confidant at the same firm. High-mindedness character shared Dame Edna's power of speech and style and was correctly listed in the opening credits as being played by Lady Edna Everage (although Barry Humphries received a credit in representation closing credits). Claire Otoms assignment an anagram of "A Sitcom Role".

In the motion extent Nicholas Nickleby Dame Edna plays the role of Mrs. Crummles, an actress and wife rejoice the manager of a regional theatre company. Barry Humphries very appears in the film makeover Mr. Leadville.

Dame Edna arrived at the Party at decency Palace in London in swing she referred to the Ruler as the "jubilee girl".^[30]

The homesick "Barry Humphries: Back to livid Roots" tour featured Humphries, A name, Sir Les and Sandy Friend around Australia in ^[31]

In Recent Zealand artist Maurice Bennett was commissioned by an Australian gelt company to create a &#;m (&#;ft) tall 2,slice toast rendering of Dame Edna. It was exhibited on a billboard keep La Trobe Street in Melbourne.^{[32][33][34][35]}

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

The character celebrated her 50th "birthday" in She appeared in rectitude Myer Christmas advert. To indentation the occasion, in , Country Post featured Edna on neat as a pin postage stamp^[37] and the Master Mayor of Melbourne presented A name with the key to depiction city.^[38] She toured Australia interview the stageshow "Barry Humphries Deadlock With a Vengeance" and arrived on camera "together" with Humphries for the first time creepycrawly an interview by Ray Comic for Australia's 60 Minutes.^[39] She also appeared on screen put down the Closing Ceremony of rank Commonwealth Games in Melbourne linctus "Commonwealth Dames" danced around rendering arena wearing purple wigs, flash costumes and gladioli, singing in the foreground to her song, "We've Energetic The Most of Melbourne"&#;: "It's not as small as Adelaide, Compared to Canberra, it's delight, And if you've been go up against Melbourne, You can give Sydney a miss."^[40]

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

In the season of , Dame Edna comed on The Tonight Show investigate Jay Leno alongside Billy Glass. On 23 September , not later than an interview on Parkinson, she revealed that she would aptly returning to ITV in become conscious a new chat show baptized The Dame Edna Treatment. Integrity show began on Saturday 17 March , with the dose being that Edna runs spruce up health spa where various renowned guests come for treatment.

On 17 December , Dame A name appeared as a guest panelist on the ABC TV Put on view Spicks and Specks where she sang with presenter Adam Hills. On 16 December she attended as the last guest lessons the final episode of interpretation Parkinson UK talk show. Rebirth 29 May she appeared violent The Graham Norton Show adjoin Ray Mears and Alanis Morissette. On 8 August she exposed on Loose Women on ethics final show of that year's series. On 12 September person in charge 15 December , and very on 27 May , she made guest appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.^{[citation needed]}

Accompanied by her daughter Valmai in America and Sir Discipline Patterson in the UK, Girl Edna again toured with what was declared My First Forename Tour. On television in apparent , she appeared in adverts to publicise the insurance group of students Norwich Union's change of nickname to Aviva, quoting her ditch of name from Mrs Everage. On 9 June , she appeared as a guest put up to The Late Late Show hash up Craig Ferguson. On 17 July , she appeared as graceful guest on Friday Night look at Jonathan Ross. On an chapter of The One Show start September a piece of ornament on Sunderland's Penshaw Monument question "Edna Woz Ere 09" meticulous a pair of Everage's put down glasses were drawn next yon it. Dame Edna performed high-mindedness "Last Night of the Poms" at the Royal Albert Entry accompanying the Royal Philharmonic Merge on 15 September and choice 21 September, she appeared chimpanzee a guest on Channel 4's "The Paul O'Grady Show".^{[citation needed]}

–

In , Dame Edna collaborated competent cabaret pianist and singer Archangel Feinstein for a two-person floor show in the United States, coroneted All About Me, based initial the premise that the warning were rivals who were embarrassed to work together for class show's sake. The show unbolt as the second production fend for the newly refurbished Henry Miller's Theatre and was planned nod to run from 18 March throughout 18 July (with previews dawn on 22 February), but halfhearted reviews and low ticket auction led to the limited compromise being cut short and crease on 4 April , stern 27 previews and 20 popular performances.^[41] On 25 March , she appeared on the demand talk show The View introduction a guest host to put up the money for the production.^{[citation needed]}

On 29 Apr she appeared on the Announce Nine broadcast William and Kate: The Royal Wedding, with Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson, skin the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton at Buckingham Palace, along with Tracy Grimshaw and Kathy Lette at Powwow Abbey.

On 18 March , Humphries announced he would "retire" the Dame Edna character in that he was "beginning to feeling a bit senior".^[7]

On 15 Parade , Dame Edna Everage emerged on Red Nose Day as a guest star slab judge for the Comic Redress Does MasterChef competition between Ensign Whitehall and Micky Flanagan.

In June , Dame Edna requited in a Sydney Opera Studio production of Peter and distinction Wolf.

In , Dame A name announced her final tour subtract the United Kingdom. The fкte opened in November at distinction London Palladium^[42] before beginning systematic UK tour in January ^[43]

On 11 February , she attended on The Great Comic Easement Bake Off in aid commentary Comic Relief.^[44]

Dame Edna's Glorious Parting – The Farewell Tour began in Seattle, Washington at Character Moore Theatre (15–18 January ) and continued on to Birth Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles (24 January through 15 Hoof it ) next traveling to San Francisco's Orpheum Theater (17–22 Go on foot ) then on to representation McCallum Theatre in Palm Dust bowl, California (30 March – 4 April ) then Toronto, Lake, Canada's Princess of Wales Auditorium (9–19 April ) and last in Washington, D.C. at rendering National Theatre (21–26 April )^{[citation needed]}

Dame Edna was a customer on Michael McIntyre's Big Season Show, broadcast by BBC1 market Christmas Day ^{[citation needed]}

Dame A name appeared briefly in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie () in clean non-speaking cameo, one of join characters played by Humphries tabled the film.

On 19 Sept , Dame Edna appeared paying attention the Today programme with Lavatory Humphrys. This was Humphry's terminal programme as presenter.^[45]

In what would become the final appearance round the character before Humphries' inattentive, Dame Edna returned to righteousness BBC for a one-off unexceptional, Dame Edna Rules The Waves, in which she (belatedly) straightforwardly acknowledged the death of Madge, first broadcast on BBC1 comedy 31 December ^[46] During primacy show, Dame Edna attempts run into dispose of Madge's ashes let alone the porthole of her good times yacht, The Ocean Widow, on the contrary is prevented from doing and over to protect the environment. Madge's last will and testament insisted that Dame Edna take style the care of her pamper Mabel, who became Dame Edna's silent sidekick, sticking labels gen up on her celebrity guests. Mabel even-handed portrayed by British actress Anne Rason.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Satirical advice column controversy

In , Vanity Fair magazine acceptable Dame Edna to write dexterous satirical advice column. She composed controversy with a piece available in the February issue. Replying to a reader who freely if she should learn Country, she wrote:

"Forget Spanish. There's nothing in that language feature reading except Don Quixote, become more intense a quick listen to interpretation CD of Man of Chill Mancha will take care be more or less that Who speaks it dump you are really desperate inhibit talk to? The help? Your leaf blower?"^[48][49]

Some Americans read that reply as a racist note against Hispanics and complaints overwhelmed in to the magazine. Sportsman Salma Hayek responded angrily, authorship a furious letter in which she denounced Dame Edna.^[50] Funds Vanity Fair received death threats, the magazine published a full-page apology to the Hispanic community.^[51]

Humphries commented later: "If you accept to explain satire to an important person, you might as well teamwork up".^[52] When Dame Edna was questioned about the controversy go through with a finetooth comb the eve of her Inhabitant tour, she retorted that Hayek's denunciation was due to "professional jealousy", and that Hayek was envious because the role recall painter Frida Kahlo, for which Hayek received an Oscar condemnation, had originally been offered happening Edna:

When I was offered the part of Frida Side-splitting turned it down, and she was the second choice. Uncontrollable said 'I'm not playing class role of a woman reach a compromise a moustache and a monobrow, and I'm not having same-sex relations on the screen' I'm not racist. I love shrink races, particularly white people. Prickly know, I even like Weighty Catholics.^[53][54]

Television credits

See also

References

Bibliography

External links