Long before Drag Race Down Under was even a gleam in RuPaul’s eye, US audiences were treated with a fabulous performer from the land of kangaroos and Vegemite. Courtney Act made it to the top three of season six, thanks to her outstanding performance in Shade: The Rusical and some stunning runway looks. Before Drag Race, Courtney showcased her impressive pipes on Australian Idol and post-season six, she wowed with her fancy footwork on the Aussie version of Dancing with the Stars and took the UK by storm on Celebrity Big Brother.
As a gender-fluid, queer person, Courtney uses her public profile to educate audiences on issues such as gender identity, sexuality, marriage equality, anti-racism and more. As a singer-songwriter she has released a pop EP and entertained audiences in her cabaret shows throughout the world. She currently splits her time following Pride parades and chasing summer between London, Los Angeles and Sydney.
It’s No Act, Courtney Act Reveals the True Story of Her Life
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In her new memoir Caught in the Act, Shane Jenek aka global drag superstar Courtney Act tells the story of searching and finding oneself.
Act is a hilarious, often scandalous, and at times heartbreaking, peek into the entertainment icon’s journey towards understanding gender, sexuality and identity.
Courtney writes about growing up in Brisbane, Australia in the 80s and 90s and how adolescent Shane’s unconventional angst was pitted against the love of his traditionally wholesome parents. She shares tales of the thrill in discovering the Sydney drag scene and then unflinchingly recounts her adventures into its seedier side that led her to dabbling in methamphetamines and multiple sexual encounters with a broad spectrum of sexualities and genders including straight-identifying men.
Of course, Courtney also dives deep into her wild ride into the world of entertainment, losing so many TV reality shows and finally winning one. There’s lots of Drag Race tea spilled, too, including her shaky introduction to Adore Delano and oh, the time RuPaul blocked her on Twitter.
In short, Courtney Act does what she does best: she dazzles and titillates while simultaneously and honestly reflects, to help readers to reexamine their own life’s journey.
COURTNEY ACT is a drag artist, singer, advocate and cultural provocateur. She has appeared on several reality TV shows, including her breakout in 2003 on the first season of Australian Idol; making the Top 3 on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6; and taking the UK by storm on Celebrity Big Brother, which she won. When Courtney isn’t busy being glamorous on TV and stage, she’s a boy from Brisbane called Shane Jenek.
As a gender-fluid, queer person, Courtney uses her public profile to educate audiences on issues such as gender identity, sexuality, marriage equality, anti-racism and more. As a singer-songwriter she has released a pop EP and entertained audiences in her cabaret shows throughout the world. She currently splits her time following Pride parades and chasing summer between London, Los Angeles and Sydney.
