Shane Gilberto Jenek (born 18 February 1982), better known under the stage name Courtney Act, is an Australian drag queen, singer and television personality. Courtney first came to prominence competing on the first season of Australian Idol in 2003. After the show, she signed to BMG Australia (now Sony Music Australia), and she released her debut single, "Rub Me Wrong", which peaked at No. 29 on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified Gold. While auditioning for Australian Idol, she became the first "openly queer and gender diverse contestant" to openly appear on the show. In 2014, Courtney was one of the runners-up in season six of RuPaul's Drag Race. Courtney is a member of the drag girl-group, The AAA Girls.
In 2014, Courtney released the extended play Kaleidoscope (2015); the title-track was the official song for the 2016 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. In January 2018, Courtney appeared on season 21 of Celebrity Big Brother UK and ultimately won the series. She began branching into a hosting career, hosting The Bi Life on E! and her own television special, The Courtney Act Show. Courtney released "Fight for Love" in late 2018 for the Eurovision – Australia Decides final; she finished in fourth place.
In 2019, Courtney competed and was runner-up on season 16 of the Australian version of Dancing with the Stars, where she was paired with Joshua Keefe. In 2022, Act was a judge on the ITV reality competition series, Queens for the Night.
Jenek uses the pronoun she when referring to Courtney and he when referring to himself.
Early life and education
Shane Gilberto Jenek was born on 18 February 1982 in Brisbane, Australia, and moved to Sydney at age 18. He was born to Gill and Annette Jenek and has an older sister named Kim.
Growing up, Jenek would always dress up and sing and dance, but couldn't identify with anything that was portrayed in the media. but, instead, he decided upon the stage name Courtney Act as, in a non-rhotic accent like the Australian accent, the phrase "caught in the act" is heard. In the first TV vote Courtney did not advance; however, the judges brought her back as a wildcard.
2003–2013: Record deal and RuPaul's Drag Race
thumb|A 2011 video by Courtney for the [[It Gets Better Project]]
After the completion of the first season of Australian Idol, Courtney went on tour with the finalists of the show. In 2003, Courtney signed a major record deal with BMG Australia now known as Sony Music Australia. Courtney released her debut single "Rub Me Wrong" the following year in March 2004, where the song reached a peak of number 29 on the ARIA Charts and gaining a gold certification by the charts. Courtney returned to the club scene and began working with the up-and-coming Lady Gaga. Courtney is the only queen from Australia ever to be featured on the show. Episode 4 featured Courtney as the main challenge winner. In September 2014, Courtney, along with Willam Belli and Alaska Thunderfuck 5000, were the first drag queens to become ad girls for American Apparel, known as The AAA Girls. She worked for the campaign Support Artists, Support Ethical Manufacturing from the fashion brand. The group released their debut single "American Apparel Ad Girls". The song charted at number 10 on the Billboard Comedy Digital songs chart: the song would later feature in Belli's solo album, Shartistry in Motion (2014). In December 2014 the group released a Christmas song, "Dear Santa, Bring Me a Man", which was featured in the first Christmas Queens (2015). The album also saw Courtney cover a solo version of "Twelve Days of Christmas". Again in June 2015, the group reunited to record for Alaska's debut studio album Anus (2015), where they collaborated on the track "The Shade of It All".
In July 2015, Courtney returned to her solo recording career and created the extended play Kaleidoscope (2015). The album generally received positives from critics and it saw the release of lead single "Ecstasy". This was followed by "Ugly", "Body Parts" and the title track song "Kaleidoscope". The latter featured as the official song for the 2016 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Courtney stated: "I feel that gender and sexuality are fluid and so often we get stuck in the rigidity. Who knows when someone outside your usual target zone might come also and sweep you off your feet?”.
thumb|250px|left|The AAA Girls performing in [[Denver, 2017. Courtney is seen on the right, with Willam on the left and Alaska in the middle.]]
In late 2017, Courtney appeared in Single AF, broadcast on MTV UK. In February 2018, Courtney was appointed one of two Fringe Ambassadors at the Adelaide Fringe, presenting the show Under the Covers there. In 2017, Courtney reunited with The AAA Girls for the Access All Areas Tour (2017). Produced by Fullscreen Live, the tour played in 15 cities in the United States and Canada. The Squared Division served as creative directors and Jae Fusz served as choreographer.
In 2018, Courtney entered the Celebrity Big Brother house, and remained in the house for 32 days, eventually winning the season, beating Ann Widdecombe. Jenek appeared as both Courtney and himself throughout the season, being referred to "him" out of drag and "her" in drag. Channel 4 confirmed The Courtney Act Show, with Courtney saying that she would be "working with some of [her] favourite artists", which was broadcast on Christmas Eve of 2018. The show featured performances from Bianca Del Rio, Adore Delano, Darienne Lake and Leona Lewis. Jenek also hosted the dating reality show The Bi Life, appearing both as Courtney Act and Shane, which premiered in Ireland and the United Kingdom on 25 October 2018 on E! Courtney competed with the song "Fight for Love" on Eurovision – Australia Decides in February 2019 to represent Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019, but was not successful, losing out to Kate Miller-Heidke with the song "Zero Gravity". The show received positive reviews.
In 2019, Courtney competed in the 16th season of the Australian version of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with Joshua Keefe, where they came second. Courtney and Keefe topped the leader board with their performance in the first episode.
On 1 March 2019, it was announced that Courtney had filmed a guest role as herself in the Australian soap opera Neighbours. Her scenes aired in 2020. In late 2019, Courtney featured in Celebrity Come Dine with Me. Courtney appeared twice as a contestant on the quiz show Celebrity Mastermind; the British version in 2018, and the Australian version in 2020.
2021–present
In 2021 it was announced that Courtney would become the new host of ABC Television's long-form television interview show Courtney Act's One Plus One, which was nominated for an AACTA Award. It was revealed that Network 10 had commissioned a pilot of Act's interview television series called Courtney's Closet, which transformed a different celebrity guest into drag each week while also learning about their personal journey, and premiered on video on demand streaming website 10 Play as part of its Pilot Showcase series. Act's podcast with Vanity Faire also got renewed for a second season, Brenda! Call Me. The show was world's largest LGBTQIA+ podcast, with the first season reaching 750,000 listens across 170 countries worldwide since debuting in February 2021. In June 2022, it was announced that Courtney would become a judge on new ITV reality competition show, Queens for the Night, where she would sit on the judging panel alongside Melanie C, Layton Williams, and Rob Beckett, with Lorraine Kelly as host.
On 22 August 2022, it was announced that Courtney would play the Killer Queen in all cities except for Sydney in the Australian arena tour of the We Will Rock You musical.
In 2023, Courtney competed on the fifth season of The Masked Singer Australia as Cowgirl, making her the first genderfluid contestant to compete on the show. She was unmasked on the tenth episode, after her seventh performance.
In May 2024, Courtney was the backstage correspondent for SBS's coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, held in Malmö, Sweden. Courtney reprised this position alongside Tony Armstrong for the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland.
Personal life
Jenek is a vegan, and identifies as pansexual, genderfluid and polyamorous. In 2018, he was based in London, having previously lived in Sydney and Los Angeles. Courtney currently resides in Sydney, having purchased her first home there in 2022.
Discography
Extended plays
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! style="width:10em;"| Title
! Details
|-
! scope="row"| Kaleidoscope
|
- Released: 7 July 2015
- Label: Courtney Act
- Formats: CD, digital download
|-
! scope="row"| Drop of Fluid
|
- Released: 3 July 2020
- Label: Courtney Act inc.
- Formats: Digital download, streaming
|}
Singles
As lead artist
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:25em;" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year
! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS<br>
| 2004
| 29
| rowspan="4"
|-
! scope="row"| "Welcome to Disgraceland"
| 2010
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "To Russia with Love"
| rowspan="2"|2014
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "Mean Gays"
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "Ecstasy"
| rowspan="3"| 2015
| —
| rowspan="4"| Kaleidoscope
|-
! scope="row"| "Ugly"
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "Body Parts"
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "Kaleidoscope"
| rowspan="4"| 2016
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "Wigs by Vanity Single Jingle"<br>
| —
| rowspan="6"
|-
! scope="row"| "Chandelier/Diamonds/Titanium (Medley)"
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "Stayin' Alive"
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "AAA"<br>
| 2017
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "Fight for Love"
| 2018
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "Brenda! Call Me"
| 2021
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "Celebrate
| 2023
| —
|}
As featured artist
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! style="width:20em;"| Title
! Year
! Album
|-
! scope="row"| "Downton Abbey...Snore"<br>
| 2013
| rowspan="3"
|-
! scope="row"| "Oh No She Better Don't"<br>
|2014
|-
! scope="row"| "Dance Again"<br>
|2017
|}
Other appearances
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! style="width:20em;"| Title
! Year
! Album
|-
! scope="row"| "Champion"<br>
| 2014
| RuPaul Presents: The CoverGurlz
|-
! scope="row"| "From Head to Mistletoe"
| 2015
| Christmas Queens
|}
Tours
Co-headlining tours
- Access All Areas Tour (2017)
Filmography
Film
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
!
|-
| 2013
| Meet the Glamcocks
| Herself
| Documentary
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2015
| Luna Goes Cruising
| Koda (voice)
| Shortfilm
|
|-
| This Is Drag
| Herself
| Documentary
|
|}
Television
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
!
|-
| 2000
| Snick Flicks
| Herself (host)
| Aired on Nickelodeon Australia for 6 months on Saturdays
|
|-
| 2003
| Australian Idol
| Herself (contestant)
| Season 1 – Placed joint 13th with wildcard contenders
|
|-
|2006
|Australia's Next Top Model
|Herself
|Season 2, Episode 7: "Fashion 1.1"
|
|-
| 2010
| Sleek Geeks
| rowspan="3" | Herself
| Season 2, Episode 8: "Wee Across the World"
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2012
| Are You There, Chelsea?
| Episode 8: "Dee Dee's Pillow"
|
|-
| I Will Survive
| Episode 4
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2014
| RuPaul's Drag Race
| Herself (contestant)
| Season 6 – Runner-up
|
|-
|RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked!
| rowspan="2" |Herself
|Companion show to RuPaul's Drag Race (Season 6)
|
|-
| Candidly Nicole
| Episode 2
|
|-
|2017
|Single AF
| Herself (contestant)
| Series 1
|
|-
| rowspan=3 | 2018
| Celebrity Big Brother 21
| Herself / himself (contestant)
| Series 21 – Winner
|
|-
| The Bi Life
| Herself / himself (host)
|
|
|-
| The Courtney Act Show
| Herself (host)
| Christmas special
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2019
| Eurovision – Australia Decides
| rowspan=2|Herself (contestant)
| 4th place
|
|-
| Mikki VS The World
| rowspan="4" | Herself
| Season 1, Episode 6: The Frosty Life
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2022
| Dancing with the Stars: All Stars
| Season 19 – Finalist
|
|-
|Eurovision Song Contest 2022
|Australian jury spokesperson
|
|-
| Queens for the Night
| Panel judge
|-
| 2023
| The Masked Singer (Australian season 5)
| Cowgirl/Herself
| 10th Unmasked / 4th Place
|-
|2025
|Claire Hooper's House Of Games
|Self
|5 episodes
|-
|}
Web series
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
!
|-
| 2012–13
| Transfashionable
| rowspan="8" | Herself
| Produced by The Stylish
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |2014
| Reality Relapse
| Produced by BiteSizeTV
|
|-
| Transformations
| Produced by WOWPresents
|
|-
| Hey Qween!
| Produced by Jonny McGovern
|
|-
|2017
|UNHhhh
| Produced by WOWPresents
|
|-
|2019
|Jag Race
|by Attitude
|
|-
|2021
|Brenda, Call Me
| Produced by Nova Podcasts
|
|-
|2022
|Courtney Facts
|Produced by ABC News
|
|-
|2024
|Very Delta
|Produced by Moguls of Media
|
|}
Music videos
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! Title
! Year
! Director
!
|-
| "Rub Me Wrong"
| 2004
| Anthony Rose
|
|-
| "Welcome to Disgraceland"
| 2010
| Kain O'Keeffe
|
|-
| "Oh No She Better Don't"
| rowspan="5" | 2014
| Eve, Trina
|
|-
| "To Russia with Love"
| Rami Mikhail
|
|-
| "Mean Gays"
| Kain O'Keeffe
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
| "American Apparel Ad Girls" (with Alaska & Willam)
| Shawn Adeli
|
|-
| "Dear Santa, Bring Me a Man" (with Alaska & Willam)
| Mairin Hart
|
|-
| "Ecstasy"
| rowspan="5" |2015
| William Baker
|
|-
| "Ugly"
| Courtney Act, Kain O'Keefe
|
|-
| "Body Parts"
| Marvin Joseph
|
|-
| "Christmas Sweater"
| Kain O'Keefe
|
|-
| "From Head To Mistletoe"
| Kain O'Keefe
|
|-
| "Kaleidoscope"
| rowspan="4"| 2016
| Wallaby Way
|
|-
| "Wigs by Vanity Single Jingle"
| rowspan="3"
|
|-
| "Stayin' Alive"
|
|-
| "Chandelier / Diamonds / Titanium (Medley)"
|
|-
| "AAA" (with Alaska & Willam)
| rowspan="2"| 2017
| Kain O'Keefe
|
|-
| "Illuminate" (with Our Lady J)
|
|
|-
| "Fight For Love"
| 2019
| Natasha Foster & Erin Fairs
|
|}
Music video appearances
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;" border="1"
|-
! Title
! Year
! Director
!
|-
| "Applause" (Lyric video)<br>
| 2013
| Lady Gaga
|
|-
| "Sissy That Walk"<br>
| 2014
| Steven Corfe
|
|-
| "Jump the Gun"<br>
| 2015
| Josef J. Weber
|
|-
| "Power"<br>
| 2017
| Hannah Lux Davis
|
|}