Courtney Act
Courtney Act | |
|---|---|
| Born | Shane Gilberto Jenek February 18, 1982 Brisbane, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Entertainer, drag performer, singer, television personality |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Known for | Drag performance; contestant on Australian Idol, RuPaul's Drag Race; winner of Celebrity Big Brother UK (2018); host of The Bi Life; judge on Queens for the Night |
Shane Gilberto Jenek (born 18 February 1982), professionally recognized as Courtney Act, is an Australian entertainer known for drag performance, singing, and television appearances. Courtney first rose to fame during the debut season of Australian Idol in 2003. Following the show, she secured a contract with BMG Australia (currently Sony Music Australia) and released her first single, "Rub Me Wrong", which reached number 29 on the ARIA Singles Chart and earned a Gold certification. She was the pioneering openly queer and gender-diverse contestant to appear on Australian Idol.
In 2014, Courtney finished as a runner-up on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and became part of the drag ensemble The AAA Girls. The following year, she released the extended play Kaleidoscope, with its lead track serving as the official anthem for the 2016 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Courtney won season 21 of Celebrity Big Brother UK in January 2018. She broadened her career into hosting with programs such as The Bi Life on E! and her own special, The Courtney Act Show. Later that year, she competed in Eurovision – Australia Decides with the song "Fight for Love", securing fourth place.
In 2019, Courtney was the runner-up on the sixteenth season of Australia's Dancing with the Stars, partnered with Joshua Keefe. In 2022, she took on a judging role on ITV’s reality competition series, Queens for the Night.
Jenek prefers she pronouns when performing as Courtney and uses he pronouns otherwise.
Early life and education
Born in Brisbane, Australia, on 18 February 1982, Shane Gilberto Jenek relocated to Sydney at age eighteen. He is the child of Gill and Annette Jenek, descending from Danish and German ancestry. His parents’ work in Kings Cross connected them to cabaret artist and television figure Carlotta.
From an early age, Jenek exhibited enthusiasm for performing arts, winning the Tiny Tots charity pageant in 1987. He trained at The Fame Talent School alongside future pop duo The Veronicas. For over a decade, he participated in pantomime performances at local shopping centres such as Strathpine Centre, Toombul Shopping Centre, and Westfield Chermside.
During his schooling years, Jenek experienced bullying related to his sexuality. He attended Nashville Primary School before transferring early to St Paul's Anglican School in Bald Hills, later moving to Sandgate District State High School. Despite these difficulties, he achieved strong academic results and initially intended to pursue medical studies.
Jenek’s introduction to LGBTQ+ culture occurred in the mid-1990s at the Stonewall Club. After exploring various drama schools including the National Institute of Dramatic Art, he chose to remain in Sydney where he embraced his identity and laid groundwork for his future profession.
2002: Origins and Australian Idol
Jenek’s drag persona originated in 2002 after meeting Sydney-based drag queen Vanity Faire, whose feminine aesthetic deeply influenced him. Initially considering "Ginger Le'Bon" as a stage name inspired by a redheaded nightclub singer character, he ultimately adopted "Courtney Act", a pun derived from "caught in the act" pronounced with an Australian accent. That same year, Courtney won the Diva Rising Star competition.
In 2003, while employed as a waiter in Brisbane, Jenek auditioned for the first season of Australian Idol using his birth name but was rejected due to vocal performance. The following day, he returned presenting as Courtney Act and impressed judges Ian Dickson, Marcia Hines, and Mark Holden enough to advance to live finals. Although initially eliminated by public vote, judges reinstated him via wildcard entry. Throughout the competition, Courtney performed songs including "I Am Woman," "You Don't Own Me," and "You Shook Me All Night Long," ultimately placing thirteenth overall. Notably, Jenek was Australia's first openly LGBTQ+ contestant on a reality television talent contest.
Alongside Vanity Faire, Courtney co-launched Wigs by Vanity in 2003—a wig business catering primarily to drag performers—which debuted concurrent with his Idol audition.
2003: Major record contract and RuPaul's Drag Race debut
Following the conclusion of Australian Idol's inaugural season, Courtney embarked on a tour alongside the show's finalists. In 2003, she secured a significant recording contract with BMG Australia (currently Sony Music Australia) and released her first single, "Rub Me Wrong", in March 2004. The track reached number 29 on the ARIA Charts and achieved gold status. Returning to the nightclub circuit, Courtney collaborated with up-and-coming artist Lady Gaga.
By August 2011, Jenek had relocated to West Hollywood, California.
In December 2013, Logo TV revealed Courtney as one of fourteen drag performers competing in the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. She remains the sole Australian queen to have appeared on the series. Courtney won the main challenge in episode 4, titled "Shade: The Rusical," receiving acclaim for her exceptional vocal and acting abilities. Progressing to the final three contestants, she was among the few never to land in the bottom two. Ultimately, she finished as a joint runner-up alongside Adore Delano, with Bianca Del Rio taking the crown.
2014-2020
In July 2014, Courtney made history as the first drag artist to perform live with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, sharing a duet with Cheyenne Jackson. Later that September, she teamed up with Willam Belli and Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 as spokesmodels for American Apparel, forming the group known as The AAA Girls. Their debut track, "American Apparel Ad Girls," climbed to number 10 on Billboard's Comedy Digital Songs chart. The trio released a holiday single in December 2014, which was included on Christmas Queens (2015), and also contributed to Alaska's first album Anus (2015).
Courtney resumed her solo endeavors in July 2015 by releasing the EP Kaleidoscope, featuring singles such as "Ecstasy," "Ugly," "Body Parts," and the title track. This title song was chosen as the official anthem for the 2016 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. In 2016, Courtney worked as an international correspondent for Junkee, covering events including the US Presidential election and reporting on the 2017 Women's March.
Towards the end of 2017, Courtney appeared on MTV UK's Single AF and was named Fringe Ambassador for the Adelaide Fringe festival in 2018. That same year, The AAA Girls reunited for their Access All Areas Tour, produced by Fullscreen (company), performing in fifteen cities across North America.
In 2018, Courtney claimed victory on Celebrity Big Brother after spending 32 days inside the house, appearing both as herself and as Shane Jenek. Channel 4 announced The Courtney Act Show, which aired on Christmas Eve 2018 and showcased performances from prominent drag artists and vocalists. Additionally, Courtney hosted The Bi Life, a bisexual dating reality series that premiered on E! in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Competing with her song "Fight for Love" in Eurovision – Australia Decides (2019), Courtney was not chosen to represent Australia; nevertheless, her participation received favorable reviews. In June 2019, New York ranked her third among "the most powerful drag queens in America."
That year marked another milestone as Courtney became the first drag contestant on Australia's version of Dancing with the Stars, finishing in second place alongside partner Joshua Keefe. On March 1, 2019, it was announced she had filmed a guest appearance portraying herself on Australian soap opera Neighbours, which aired in 2020. Later in 2019, she featured on Celebrity Come Dine with Me and competed twice on Celebrity Mastermind—participating in both the British edition in 2018 and the Australian edition in 2020.
2021–present
In 2021, Courtney took on the role of host for ABC Television’s in-depth interview program Courtney Act's One Plus One, which earned a nomination for an AACTA Award. Network 10 developed a pilot episode of Courtney's Closet, a drag makeover and interview series featuring celebrity guests, which debuted on 10 Play’s Pilot Showcase. Following its initial launch in 2021, Courtney’s podcast with Vanity Fair, titled Brenda! Call Me, was renewed for a second season after accumulating 750,000 listens across 170 countries.
By June 2022, Courtney became a judge on ITV’s reality competition Queens for the Night, joining Melanie C, Layton Williams, and Rob Beckett on the panel, with Lorraine Kelly as host. On 22 August 2022, it was revealed that Courtney would portray the Killer Queen in the Australian arena tour of the We Will Rock You musical, performing in every city except Sydney.
In 2023, Courtney appeared as Cowgirl on the fifth season of The Masked Singer Australia, marking the first time a genderfluid contestant participated; she was unmasked following her seventh performance. In May 2024, Courtney acted as backstage correspondent for SBS’s Eurovision Song Contest broadcast from Malmö, Sweden, reprising this position alongside Tony Armstrong for the 2025 contest held in Basel, Switzerland.
Personal life
Jenek follows a vegan lifestyle and identifies as pansexual, genderfluid, and polyamorous. In 2018, he resided in London after previously living in Sydney and Los Angeles. Currently, Courtney lives in Sydney, having purchased her first residence there in 2022.
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Kaleidoscope |
|
| Drop of Fluid |
|
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| "Rub Me Wrong" | 2004 | 29 | rowspan="4" Template:N/A |
| "Welcome to Disgraceland" | 2010 | — | |
| "To Russia with Love" | 2014 | — | |
| "Mean Gays" | — | ||
| "Ecstasy" | 2015 | — | Kaleidoscope |
| "Ugly" | — | ||
| "Body Parts" | — | ||
| "Kaleidoscope" | 2016 | — | |
| "Wigs by Vanity Single Jingle" (with Vanity Faire) |
— | rowspan="6" Template:N/A | |
| "Chandelier/Diamonds/Titanium (Medley)" | — | ||
| "Stayin' Alive" | — | ||
| "AAA" (with Willam and Alaska Thunderfuck) |
2017 | — | |
| "Fight for Love" | 2018 | — | |
| "Brenda! Call Me" | 2021 | — | |
| "Celebrate" | 2023 | — |
Featured Collaborations
| Track | Release Year | Collection |
|---|---|---|
| "Downton Abbey...Snore" (Jimmy Ray Bennett, Stephen Guarino & Jeff Hiller featuring Willam Belli, Vicky Vox & Courtney Act) |
2013 | rowspan="3" Template:N/A |
| "Oh No She Better Don't" (RuPaul featuring Drag Race Season 6 Cast) |
2014 | |
| "Dance Again" (Bielfield featuring Courtney Act) |
2017 |
Additional Contributions
| Track | Release Year | Collection |
|---|---|---|
| "Champion" (RuPaul featuring Courtney Act) |
2014 | RuPaul Presents: The CoverGurlz |
| "From Head to Mistletoe" | 2015 | Christmas Queens |
Touring History
Joint headline tours
Cinema
| Year | Title | Character | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Meet the Glamcocks | Self | Documentary feature |
| 2015 | Luna Goes Cruising | Koda (voice) | Short film production |
| This Is Drag | Self | Documentary film |
Television
| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Snick Flicks | Host (Self) | Broadcast on Nickelodeon Australia, Saturdays for six months |
| 2003 | Australian Idol | Contestant (Self) | Season 1 – Finished joint 13th alongside wildcard entrants |
| 2010 | Sleek Geeks | Self | Season 2, Episode 8: "Wee Across the World" |
| 2012 | Are You There, Chelsea? | Guest (Self) | Episode 8: "Dee Dee's Pillow" |
| I Will Survive | Participant (Self) | Episode 4 | |
| 2014 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Contestant (Self) | Season 6 – Finished as runner-up |
| RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked! | Self | Companion series to Season 6 | |
| 'Candidly Nicole' | 'Guest (Self)' | 'Episode 2' | |
| 'Single AF | 'Contestant (Self)' | 'Series 1, 2017' | |
| 'Celebrity Big Brother 21 | 'Contestant (Self)' | 'Series 21 – Winner' | |
| 'The Bi Life | 'Host (Self)' | ||
| 'The Courtney Act Show | 'Host (Self)' | 'Christmas special episode' | |
| 'Eurovision – Australia Decides | 'Contestant (Self)' | 'Placed fourth' | |
| 'Dancing with the Stars | 'Runner-up' | 'Season 16' | |
| 'Neighbours | 'Guest role (Self)' | ||
| 'Celebrity Karaoke Club | 'Contestant' | ||
| 'Courtney Act's One Plus One | 'Host (Self)' | 'Australian interview series' | |
| 'Mikki VS The World | 'Guest appearance' | 'Season 1, Episode 6: The Frosty Life' | |
| 'Dancing with the Stars: All Stars | 'Finalist' | 'Season 19' | |
| 'Eurovision Song Contest 2022 | 'Spokesperson for Australian jury' | ||
| 'Queens for the Night | 'Panel judge' | ||
| 'The Masked Singer (Australian season 5) | 'Cowgirl / Self' | 'Unmasked in episode 10 / Finished fourth' | |
| 'Claire Hooper's House Of Games | 'Self' | 'Featured in five episodes' |
Web series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | Transfashionable | Herself | Created by The Stylish | |
| 2014 | Reality Relapse | A BiteSizeTV production | ||
| Transformations | Produced by WOWPresents | |||
| Hey Qween! | Produced under the direction of Jonny McGovern | |||
| 2017 | UNHhhh | A production of WOWPresents | ||
| 2019 | Jag Race | Presented by Attitude | ||
| 2021 | Brenda, Call Me | Produced by Nova Podcasts | ||
| 2022 | Courtney Facts | Created by ABC News | ||
| 2024 | Very Delta | Produced by Moguls of Media |
Music videos
| Title | Year | Director | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Rub Me Wrong" | 2004 | Anthony Rose | |
| "Welcome to Disgraceland" | 2010 | Kain O'Keeffe | |
| "Oh No She Better Don't" | 2014 | Directed by Eve, Trina | |
| "To Russia with Love" | Rami Mikhail | ||
| "Mean Gays" | Kain O'Keeffe | ||
| "American Apparel Ad Girls" (featuring Alaska & Willam) | Shawn Adeli | ||
| "Dear Santa, Bring Me a Man" (featuring Alaska & Willam) | Mairin Hart | ||
| "Ecstasy" | 2015 | William Baker | |
| "Ugly" | Directed by Courtney Act and Kain O'Keefe | ||
| "Body Parts" | Marvin Joseph | ||
| "Christmas Sweater" | Kain O'Keefe | ||
| "From Head To Mistletoe" | " Kain O'Keefe | ||
| "Kaleidoscope" | 2016 | " Wallaby Way | |
| "Wigs by Vanity Single Jingle" | " rowspan="3" Template:N/A | ||
| "Stayin' Alive" | |||
| "Chandelier / Diamonds / Titanium (Medley)" | |||
| "AAA" (with Alaska & Willam) | 2017 | " Directed by Kain O'Keefe | |
| "Illuminate" (featuring Our Lady J) | " Template:N/A | ||
| "Fight For Love" | " 2019 | " Natasha Foster & Erin Fairs |
Appearances in music videos
| Title | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|
| "Applause" (Lyric video) (by Lady Gaga) |
" 2013 | " Lady Gaga |
| "Sissy That Walk" (by RuPaul) |
" 2014 | " Steven Corfe |
| "Jump the Gun" (by Adore Delano) |
" 2015 | " Josef J. Weber |
| "Power" (by Little Mix featuring Stormzy) |
" 2017 | " Hannah Lux Davis |
External links
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1982 births
- Living people
- Australian expatriates in the United States
- Australian drag queens
- Australian Idol participants
- Australian people of Danish descent
- Australian people of German descent
- Australian pop singers
- Australian non-binary musicians
- Non-binary singers
- Australian LGBTQ singers
- RuPaul's Drag Race contestants
- Non-binary drag performers
- Pansexual singers
- Polyamorous people
- Reality show winners
- Non-binary pansexual people
- Genderfluid musicians
- Australian pansexual people
- Musicians from Brisbane
- Drag performers from Sydney
- Drag performers from London
- Drag performers from Los Angeles
- Australian expatriates in England
- Genderfluid drag performers