Barry Humphries: You ask the questions

(Such as: so, is it really true that Germaine Greer had a crush on you at university? And who designs Dame Edna's frocks?)

Barry Humphries was born in Melbourne in 1934. He arrived in England in 1959, making a living by writing the Barry McKenzie strip for Private Eye and appearing in musicals. In the Seventies his most famous creation, Dame Edna Everage, captured a British audience. Tours and television shows followed as Dame Edna and as Sir Les Patterson, the "Australian cultural attaché". Recently Dame Edna has won a Tony award, appeared in the final series of Ally McBeal and written an advice column for Vanity Fair. Humphries lives with his fourth wife, Lizzie Spender. He has four children by two previous wives.

Did your parents understand your urge to leap on to the stage and bring Australia into disrepute?
Kirsty Hallett, Dorchester

They were very anxious about my decision to go into acting. We knew no one in the theatre. They thought I wouldn't make any money. And on and off, I don't, of course. But my parents came around in the end and would come to my shows, although my mother never came to see Les Patterson because she said he was too Sydney.

Is it true you've gone to visit Jeffrey Archer in jail? Have you read the prison diaries?
Hugh Parker, London

Yes, I did visit him. He was a very loyal friend to me at one time and I see no reason why I shouldn't go and see him in adversity. I haven't read the diaries, but I would say, by way of example, that if I was in a restaurant and wanted to review it unfavourably, I would wait until I'd left the table. But that's up to Jeffrey. He's irrepressible.

Are you planning to hang up the spectacles and retire to Melbourne?
Sophie Pilston, by e-mail

Well, I don't know whether Edna will ever retire. I perhaps might. If I did, it would certainly be to Melbourne. My entire family are there – both my daughters, my two brothers and my sister. I'm still constantly amused by Melbourne. I can't explain why – it's just a private joke between me and Melbourne.

What is Sir Les Patterson up to now? Some of us still treasure memories of his 'Traveller's Tool' and miss him.
Jon Darley, Haywards Heath

Well, the Australian government is very keen for Les to become their man in Baghdad. So it's Nobel prize time for Les. He feels he can talk Saddam's language. As soon as Saddam meets Les, he'll know he's met his match. Les will be able to sniff out any of this poison gas stuff. He'll also be on Parkinson at Christmas. Santa Patterson will be there with some fairly suggestive packages for the womenfolk. And he is currently revising The Traveller's Tool and hopes to publish The Enlarged and Extended Tool in the new year.

Who makes Dame Edna's frocks?
Sean Gower, Eastbourne

According to Dame Edna, they are made by her son Kenny. However, I believe that many of the more brilliant frocks are in fact designed in London by Stephen Adnitt. Adnitt originally designed her London Weekend Television wardrobe in 1980s and early 1990s and is still the designer of her more specialised dresses such as her American Indian Dress and her New York dress.

Didn't Germaine Greer have a crush on you at university? What did you make of her?
Debbie Gauld, London

Well, she was at Sydney University and I was at Melbourne University, but friends of mine knew her and I met her when she came down to Melbourne. It was 1958. It's unlikely she had a crush on me, but I was certainly very impressed with her. She was very attractive, and still is. I can even remember what she was wearing; it was a blue tunic dress and black stockings, which were rather naughty then – laddered, if I remember correctly.

Would you consider having plastic surgery? Do you worry about losing Dame Edna's lovely legs?
Rebecca Smith, Birmingham

Well, I've never had plastic surgery except for a couple of veins on my right leg. My legs are often commented on. But as a student Shakespearean actor, when I had to wear tights, I was very conscious of them. Playing Prince Orsino in Twelfth Night, there was a titter when I went on stage. I assumed they were laughing at my legs so I always dodged behind the furniture on stage. Only later did I discover that they were laughing at the fact that I looked funny and that, on the contrary, my legs were considered to be my one redeeming physical feature.

You're bringing out your second autobiography. Did you forget something the first time?
Ruth Arnot, Sheffield

I forgot almost all the most important things that happened to me in volume one. There's a great deal more about my relationship with my parents in this book. Although, unfortunately, no sexual molestation or incest. Disappointing, I know, to British readers. I was extraordinarily spoilt as a child – I was the eldest of four. It's done my character no good at all. I expect instant attention. Of course, now I have to spoil myself. I have to think: "Barry wants it? He shall have it!"

Do you feel any responsibility for presiding over the dying throes of 'Ally McBeal'?
Scott Deardon, by e-mail

Well, Dame Edna, not I, was invited to take part in a series of Ally McBeal. I think, even then, it was thought to be the last series. It was Edna's first acting role and some of the lines did sound, frankly, like Edna had written them on a bad day. But she certainly helped to fatten up Calista Flockhart and Edna claims that she introduced her to Harrison – Harry – Ford.

Why does America love you now, when in 1977 your Broadway show bombed?
Liz Varney, Chesterfield

The American taste has changed. They've grown up since – they've become more sophisticated. And the critic who didn't like Edna then has died. Simple as that. You only need one bad review on Broadway. It just goes to show that in Australia we are decades ahead of America culturally.

When did you first get the idea for Dame Edna?
Simon Bowles, Bromley

It was 1955. She was first written for an actress called Zoe Caldwell, who is now a multi-Tony award winning Broadway actress. We were both members of the same Shakespeare company. I wrote the role for a Christmas show. But because Zoe had too many songs, the director asked me to play the part. I thought the character was good for one performance.

Because Edna has now become the subject of exegesis, people are very keen to say that she is based on my mother. But it's much more complicated than that. She is based on pretty well every Australian matron of the mid-1950s – with several aunties thrown in.

It's time for a new character, isn't it?
Mike Godliman, by e-mail

I'm just starting to write a new show for Australia, which I will hope to bring to Britain and the United States, which will have four new characters. One of them will definitely be a Chinese-Australian businessman with a bit of a world empire. Definitely the yellow peril in a Savile Row suit.

'My Life as Me' by Barry Humphries is published by Michael Joseph (£16.99)