Dame Edna Everage is a character played by Australian comedian Barry Humphries. As Dame Edna, Humphries has written several books and hosted various television shows (on which Humphries has also appeared as himself). In 1979, Dame Edna was the subject of a BBC Arena mockumentary: La Dame aux Gladiolas.

While Humphries freely states that Dame Edna is a character he plays, Dame Edna consistently denies being a fictional character or drag performer, and refers to Humphries as her "entrepreneur" or manager. Indeed, Dame Edna has frequently said that the thought of a man dressing up as a woman for entertainment purposes is repulsive.

According to Dame Edna's autobiography, and to statements she has made, she was born Edna May Beazley in the (then) small rural town of Wagga Wagga, and started her stage career on 19 December 1955 as Mrs. Norm Everage, an "average Australian housewife" from Moonee Ponds, a Melbourne suburb. Dame Edna was born with a sibling, who gave birth to Barry McKenzie.

She is easily recognisable for her lilac-coloured hair (which she claims is natural) and over-the-top eyeglasses.

She spends her time visiting world leaders and jet-setting between her homes in Los Angeles, London, Sydney, Switzerland and Martha's Vineyard. She is a friend and confidante of the Queen.

Like Humphries, Dame Edna has four adult children: two daughters, Valmai (who assisted Dame Edna on her most recent programme for ITV1, The Dame Edna Treatment) and Lois. Her two sons are Bruce, who is married to Joylene, and her youngest child is Kenneth (or Kenny), who, when described by Dame Edna, comes across as a caricature of a gay man. Dame Edna shows no awareness of his homosexuality, despite often referring to his 'partner', Clifford Smale. Kenny was shown in Sir Les Patterson's documentary 'Les Patterson and the Great Chinese Takeaway' as a boutique owner in Hong Kong. Dame Edna's mother is incarcerated in a "maximum-security twilight home for the bewildered". Valmai and Kenny are the only family member (as of yet) to be seen. Her husband, Sir Norman Everage, died in 1988 after many years in hospital suffering from prostate problems and a "testicular murmur".

Besides these family members, her elderly "bridesmaid" Madge Allsop (played by Emily Perry), a New Zealander from Palmerston North, is often present during Dame Edna's appearances and television shows. Madge never speaks a word, though she is often the butt of Dame Edna's jokes.

Dame Edna is praised for her insights into her homeland. When asked why Australians are so good at sport she commented "Good food and diet; open air life; juicy steaks; sunshine — and the total absence of any kind of intellectual distraction."

On 7 March 2007 her home town (Melbourne) re-named a city street in her honour: Dame Edna Place, formerly Brown Alley off Little Collins Street, was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, John So. Dame Edna Place is opposite Royal Arcade and The Causeway, between the major roads, Elizabeth Street and Swanston Street; it was, until its renaming, a service alley for adjoining buildings. Dame Edna was not at the renaming ceremony, but was represented by 10 look-alike Dames.

On 16 June 2007, Dame Edna's alter-ego Barry Humphries became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to entertainment.