Dame Edna Everage, CBE, FRGS is an Australian-born actor, comedian, author, singer, and television personality. She was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1988. Dame Edna was born Leila Rosemary Petyt on 18 March 1925 in Adelaide, South Australia to Gladys (née Higgs; 1893–1976), a wreath maker for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and George Petyt (1893–1947), a printer's foreman. Her maternal grandparents were Welsh. She attended Adelaide Girls' High School and then studied at the University of Adelaide. At age 17, she auditioned for and was accepted into The University Players' Company. She began performing with the Company in Melbourne in 1942
She returned to Adelaide in 1944 and took part in the revue "Lovely Leila". She subsequently performed in revues at Adelaide's Theatre Royal and Regent Theatre. In 1945 she performed with the J. C.
Williamson Shakespeare Company before moving to London to work with other theatres. In 1957 she returned to Australia to perform in revues at Melbourne's Town Hall Theatre and Sydney's Festival Theatre during that year's Australian National Exhibition (ANZAC Day). On 28 October 1957 Dame Edna married Errol Flynn at Trinity Church, St Kilda Road, Melbourne; they divorced on 8 August 1962. In 1964 she married Australian airline pilot John Fairfax Norquay (1926–2011) at Marylebone Register Office in London; they had a daughter named Diane Norquay (born 9 November 1966). They divorced in 1974. In 1975 she married Peter Storey (born 7 September 1928) at Marylebone Register Office; they had two sons named Jeremy Storey (born 1977) and David Storey (born 1980).
In 1988 she married Robert "Bob" Morgan (1922–2014) at Marylebone Register Office; they had no children. In 2011 she married her business manager Edward "Ed" Wilson at Marylebone Register Office; they have one daughter called Jane Wilson born 11 May 2013 (whose birthday is celebrated annually with a special performance by Dame Edna). Dame Edna has never been a member of a political party or union and has no connection with any political group or organisation having a political agenda whatever its nature may be .
In 2012 Dame Edna was appointed Honorary
My mother used to say that there are no strangers, only friends you haven't met yet. She's now in a maximum security twilight home in Australia.Dame Edna Everage
There is, perhaps, no more dangerous man in the world than the man with the sensibilities of an artist but without creative talent. With luck such men make wonderful theatrical impresarios and interior decorators, or else they become mass murderers or critics.Dame Edna Everage
