Dame Edna: ‘Barry Humphries embezzled all my money’

Dame Edna Everage blames her “failed actor and attention seeker” manager Barry Humphries for “acts of embezzlement” and prematurely announcing her retirement in 2015. But now she’s back with a comeback Australian tour.

It was a “wicked fib, a porkie” for which Dame Edna Everage is begging her fans’ forgiveness.

But now, for the first time, Moonee Ponds’ most glamorous export has revealed the painful private scandal that led to her prematurely announcing her retirement in 2015.

And at its centre was her long-time manager, “failed actor and attention seeker” Barry Humphries.

Dame Edna Everage has announced her comeback tour in Australia.

Announcing a national comeback tour called Dame Edna My Gorgeous Life, during which she will appear at the Darling Harbour Theatre in September and October, Dame Edna said: “While every star has to make allowances for minor acts of embezzlement, Humphries had his hand in the till up to the armpit.

“It’s horrible, isn’t it? I’m sobbing, I’m crying. Because I knew him for a long time; I knew his parents.”

It is only now that Dame Edna’s new team of advisers has unravelled her tangled affairs.

“They said I should close down all my companies, even my charitable foundation Friends of the Prostate, and restart my career on a clean page,” Dame Edna told The Sunday Telegraph.

“That’s what I’m doing.

“Now I’m reborn, fit as a fiddle and rid of the leech who tormented me for so long.”

Dame Edna said her new show will be about the “kaleidoscope of events” occurring in her life while she took a break from the stage.

For one thing, she’s been busy advising Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

“I’ve been helping little Meghan because she’s worried about stretch marks, and I know about stretch marks,” Dame Edna said.

“I’ve got a special ointment that I use. I make it myself. She has to rub that in before she has the baby.”

Dame Edna blames Barry Humphries for prematurely announcing her retirement in 2015. Picture: David Caird

Dame Edna is set to perform again during her comeback tour, Dame Edna My Gorgeous Life.

Dame Edna also revealed that she has her own room at Buckingham Palace.

“On the upper right hand corner, high up, you’ll see a small window and on the sill there’s a glass with a toothbrush in it — that’s my little nook,” she said.

Has she been giving ScoMo pre-election advice?

“I lose track of the Prime Minister of Australia. The next one will be the eighth on a full pension,” Dame Edna said.

“Can we afford all these ex-PMs?”

And she promised fans will not be disappointed when she emerges on stage in Sydney for her “farewell tour part two”.

“My frocks will be sensational,” Edna bubbled.

“They are going to be the most spectacular dresses I have ever worn on stage.”

* Dame Edna will perform at the Darling Harbour Theatre, ICC Sydney, on September 28 and 29, and on October 5. Tickets go on sale at 9am, Thursday, May 9. A pre-sale by tour manager TEG Dainty starts at 2pm on Wednesday, May 8, at tegdainty.com.