John Barry Humphries is one of the most remarkable and outstanding Australian who is well-known in many western countries. He was born in Melbourne in 1934. When Barry was still in adolescence, he had already paid much attention to his appearance and spend lots of time to dress up himself. Although his academic performance was not satisactory, he has quickly found an alternative and develop an interest in acting and performing arts. His innate sense of humour has made chemical reaction with his interest and, eventually paved a road for himself.
His first semiformal perofrmance was at the Union Theatre of the Melbourne University in December 1955. That was the first time his creation - Dame Edna Everage appeard in public. He dressed up as a housewife, with a purple hair, fancy glasses with diamond rings, chains and necklace. Because of the comical appearance, he has soon captured the eyes of many audiences. In addition to his humourous discourse, a unique Humphries’ style of performance has created. He loves to make fun with politicians and news in his solo shows. As he had said in an interview with BBC, “Making people laugh was a very good way of befriending them. People couldn't hit you, could they, if you were laughing”. He brings lots of joy and happiness to Australian, especially Melbourne. When he was approximately 25, he furthers his career to Europe and since then, he became famous not only in Australia, but also in Britain, the USA, to name just a few. Gradually, his jokes and pleasantries become more and more international than ever.
He did an excellent performance on his one-man shows. However, his rampant ego and mean characteristic sometimes makes an aversion towards audiences. Once in his solo show, an audience come late and he immediately stopped his performance and asked all the other audiences to concentrate on and welcome this late audience! His mean trait can also be seen in many of his shows. Occasionally he will pick an audience to participate in his gag in the middle of his show. A famous one is that he pointed at an audience suddenly and said “I'm trying to find a word to describe what you're wearing... affordable!” It is his strangeness that develops a love-hate relationship with all his audiences.
His strangeness does not end with his uproariously funny performance, but also his hilarious dressing. Every time when he is on show, he must dress up exaggeratedly as Dame Edna Everage, a housewife living in Melbourne, or Sir Les Patterson, a foul-spoken Australian cultural attaché. He makes good use of people’s curiosity and tries to keep everybody’s eye on him. He always appear in a high-profile way and from time to time, he will pretend as from royal family, having a royal tour, waving hands to pedestrians in an glamorous car. He is somehow a self-pleased person who always wants spotlight on him.
Despite his strangeness, he is actually a versatile person. Comedian is what he is famous for. He has countless plays such as ‘A night with Dame Edna’ (1979), ‘Look at me when I'm talking to you’ (1996) and ‘Barry Humphries & friends: Back with a vengeance – a new effort.’ (2006). He is, at the same time, an actor. Since 1960s, Barry has appeared in various movies, mainly in supporting or cameo roles. His movies include the ‘Barry McKenzie Holds His Own’ (1974), ‘The Adventures of Barry McKenzie’ (1972), and ‘Finding Nemo’ (2003). In his leisure time, he writes about himself and his creation of character. In 1993, his autobiography ‘More Please’ (1992) won him the J.R. Ackerley Prize, which is given annually to the author who has written an outstanding autobiography. Moreover, he is regarded as one of the best landscape artists in Australia. Barry’s multi-talented leads him to get Centenary Medal awarded by the Australian Government.
Barry Humphries, perhaps the most successful solo comic performer in the history of the stage, has a career spanning 45 years in theatre, film and television.

"I don't pick on them. I empower them. I use a little bit of tough love." -- Humphries on his treatment of the audience during Dame Edna: Back with a Vengeance to CultureVulture