More Than Just an Act
THE UK HAS FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THE MULTI TALENTED CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER WINNER COURTNEY ACT, AKA SEAN GILBERTO JENEK. THE 36-YEAR-OLD AUSTRALIAN STAR HIT FAME IN AUSTRALIAN IDOL IN 2003 BEFORE TAKING THE US BY STORM IN RUE PAUL'S DRAG RACES. COURTNEY HAS SUNG WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, AND COLLABORATED WITH JAKE SHEERS OF THE SCISSOR SISTERS. SHE IS TOURING THE UK THIS MAY, KICKING OFF IN BRIGHTON.
You lived in West Hollywood for a time. Did you really find the queens there mean?
Oh, there are mean people in all of society. My song the Mean Gays was more about perfect body image, the pressures to go the gym and fit in with the Hollywood gay scene, poking a little fun at them. There is a lot of pressure on the gay scene to look perfect, particularly in LA. In life, though, I tend to look for the positive in people.
Which is your favourite city in the world?
This is kind of a weird answer - it would have to be a temporary city called Black Rock, which is part of The Burning Man festival held in Nevada each year, bringing together artists and like-minded people.
The event takes its name from the symbolic ritual burning of a large wooden effigy ("The Man") that traditionally occurs on the Saturday evening of the festival.
Burning Man was first held 32 years ago, in 1986 in San Francisco, and has been held annually since then, spanning the last Sunday in August to the first Monday in September. It is an amazing event.
You have sung with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and worked with Jake Sheers of the Scissor Sisters - who else would you like to work with?
Oh, there are so many. But my fantasy is to sing with the Spice Girls if they get back together again. I could imagine dong a rap with them or maybe opening in tour for them. Love, love them.
You said the Spice Girls helped you come out - who were the other influencers on your teen years?
There were so many. Obviously Kylie - she is Australian gold. And Madonna thinks we should not forget that she helped so many feel good about coming out and being yourself. Cher is the ultimate Gay Icon. There are so many icons that influenced me – and, of course, let’s not forget Dame Edna!
When you performed at the Pizza Express in London two years ago, you described a romantic episode with an apparently straight man when you lived Hollywood. Is this something that has repeated itself and are you more attracted to men that are labelled straight, such as Andrew Brady?
Well, I think I'll turn that question around. I think sometimes men who would describe themselves as straight are attracted to Courtney and get confused. In my experience gay men are often not as keen on me as I might be on them. Really I’d like to settle down with a guy and be happy; they don’t have to be labelled as straight.
MilliOnAir | Interview
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By Celebrity Editor Steven Smith