The average housewife turned international star has been nominated for a Relly, the tongue in-cheek awards distributed by the "Live with Regis and Kelly" show. The Dame was nominated in the Funniest Guest category; her competitors include David Letterman, Chris Rock, Aisha Tyler and the Emmy winning cast of "Everybody Loves Raymond." Other Relly categories include Best Regis, Best Dressed, Favorite Music Guest, Best Prop, Best Junior Achiever, Best Non-Human Guest, Best Host Chat, Best Dance Partner, Best New Co-Host, Best Reality Guest, Best Wild & Wacky, Most Touching Moment and Best Performance. Those vying for a Relly in the latter category include Slava's Snowshow, Johnnie and the Cruisers, Drumstruck, Cirque du Soleil, Wiggles and Belly Dancing.

Dubbed Australia's First Lady, Dame Edna is the invention of Barry Humphries, a successful character actor in Europe and Australia as well as an esteemed landscape painter. Some of Humphries' theatrical credits include roles in Waiting for Godot, Oliver! and Maggie May, but his most successful outings have been as Dame Edna, a character he created in 1956. Humphries was given the Order of Australia in 1982 and was endowed with an Honorary Doctorate of Griffith University in Australia in 1994. The Dame found success on Broadway during the 2000 season with her Tony Award-winning show, Dame Edna: The Royal Tour.

The Third Annual Relly Award winners will be announced on "Live with Regis and Kelly" Sept. 23. Visit www.rellyawards.com for more information.