Barry Humphries

Internationally famous comedian, actor, writer and long-suffering manager of Dame Edna Everage, Barry Humphries has released a behind the scenes and candid account of her life and career in the book, 'Handling Edna'.

Barry Humphries is one of the funniest and most loved performers Australia has produced, capturing the hearts of millions of people around the world.

He’s achieved global success as a comedian, actor and writer - he is the author of several plays, books and two volumes of autobiography - AND is regarded as one of the country's best landscape artists!

Barry is most famous for his satirical characters, including Aussie bloke Barry McKenzie, grandfatherly Sandy Stone, stomach-turning Australian cultural attache Sir Les Patterson, and his most famous and enduring creation, Melbourne housewife superstar Dame Edna Everage.

So, it’s no surprise that as a youngster he spent hours dressing up and inventing his own characters, then while studying law, philosophy and fine arts at the University of Melbourne he began writing and performing in university revues. He went to London in his early 20s and became serious about acting and writing - penning a comic strip about the adventures of an Australian bloke called Barry McKenzie, which was made into a movie, also starring Mrs Edna Everage. Barry’s reputation as an actor and writer has grown ever since.

Barry has just released the book Handling Edna – a behind the scenes, candid and authoritative account of the life and career of Edna Everage – superstar, swami, confidante and adviser to royalty, Hollywood (and Bollywood) stars, international political leaders, heads of state and various Popes.

From the days when she was a humble Moonee Ponds housewife to the stratospheric life she leads now, this exhaustively researched story of her roller-coaster career is told by the man who has been there from the very beginning – Barry Humphries.