Interview: Barry Humphries

The creator of Dame Edna Everage, Barry Humphries, is "not ... harmless", says his old mate John Clarke. "There can be some sharp bits, so watch yourself."

By Diana Wichtel In Books

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14th November, 2009

He's there in spirit, if not exactly in drag. The Auckland lunch is to launch Barry Humphries' latest literary assault on Mt Edna. At the hotel, we file in past the promotional poster on which the face of the housewife gigastar from Moonee Ponds - eyes glinting with menacing bonhomie behind bejewelled specs; hair the familiar ossified wisteria - morphs into the face of her creator. It's like those pictures of Jesus with the moving eyes. Spooky. When Humphries makes his entrance, you can see punters scanning him for signs of his most famous - more famous - alter ego. "Not without bitterness ...

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