Caught in the Act

A Memoir by Courtney Act

By: Shane Jenek

Narrated by: Shane Jenek

Caught in the Act is about our journey towards understanding gender, sexuality and identity. It's an often hilarious and at times heartbreaking memoir from a beloved drag and entertainment icon.

Boy, girl, artist, advocate. Courtney is more than the sum of her parts.

Meet Shane Jenek. Raised in the Brisbane suburbs by loving parents, Shane realises from a young age that he's not like all the other boys. He finds his tribe at a performing arts agency, where he discovers his passion for song, dance and performance. Shane makes a promise to himself - to find a bigger stage.

Meet Courtney Act. Born in Sydney around the turn of the millennium, Courtney makes her name in the gay bars of Oxford Street and then on Australian Idol. Over 10 years later, she makes star turns on RuPaul's Drag Race and Celebrity Big Brother UK, bringing her unique take on drag and gender to the world.

Behind this rise to national and global fame is a story of searching for and finding one's self.

©2021 Shane Jenek (P)2021 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Critic reviews

"He says...she says.... There is a lot more to drag than just a wig and a frock. This read is shockingly honest, raunchy, funny and moving and a hugely surprising education for me. A must-read for anyone curious to know the complexities of being Shane and Courtney!" (Dannii Minogue)

"In a world where there are now more drag queens than pubs, it’s hard to stand out. You need to be pretty, witty and unstoppable. Courtney is all three and more. I love this book." (Boy George)

"A coming-of-age story like no other. It is an honour to dive into the world of a young queer kid from the Australian suburbs and learn how they became an icon of entertainment and social politics." (The Veronicas)