Caught in the Act cover art

Caught in the Act

A Memoir by Courtney Act

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Caught in the Act

By: Shane Jenek
Narrated by: Shane Jenek
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About this listen

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 Biographies & Memoirs Entertainment & Celebrities LGBTQIA+ Creators Celebrity Memoir Funny Witty Thought-Provoking

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)
All stars
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Shane and Courtney have an amazing story to tell. A truthful account of an amazing persons life and they are still so young … can’t wait for the next book in 20 years time 😊

Loved this candid account

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I already loved Courtney Act. Well Shane as I remember him being in high school performing at Sandgate High with my friends older sister as little kids we'd watch these musicals in aw. Fast forward to Drag Race and I fell in Love even more, any book or post I could find I'd read and read was lucky enough to meet you once in person in Brisbane at the power house with Bianca! I cried all the way home because you were so lovely and kind! This book is open and raw but you feel do close as you hear of the stories and tales of a life so raw but this honest truth through. Shane opens up and really connects with you and it transcends through this book ! you won't be disappointed ♡ You are amazing Shane please remember that ♡

fall in love over and over again

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Not only will this make you laugh and cry it will open your eyes and educate you without you even being aware it’s happening. Thank you Courtney for sharing your journey (to date) and making the world a little safer for us all. P.S I laughed so much reading this, what a ride.

Must read- laugh, cry, live and learn

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Overall I liked this memoir but I probably should have read it as Shane is the narrator. Overall he is good but every time there’s an American talking in the book (which is often) he impersonates them with this awful cringey, cheesy American accent.

Shane ruins it with cringy American accent

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This is an amazing memoir of one of Australia's truest treasures. Was absolutely life changing.

One word... INCREDIBLE

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I loved this booked, it was amazing hearing Courtney’s words straight from them, the book is quite raunchy so you have been warned but I really liked that aspect of the book the raw honesty about a life I know nothing about, would highly recommend it 10/10.

Loved it!!

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I loved the listening to Shane. I really admire his honesty and loved listening to him articulate his journey to identify issues surrounding gender and sexuality, both his and the people Shane and Courtney met along the way.

Fabulous, raw, honest

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I am so grateful for this book. Shane really grabbed my heart and soul and have opened my mind in a way that I believe will help me start to heal (finally). As a queer person I have struggled with the perception of myself through other peoples eyes. I feel like I finally understand what I am and Shane’s incredibly easy-to-understand explanations are guiding me to freedom.

The stories are real and edgy, funny and naughty. It was so interesting to hear his and her entire journey from beginning to the present.

I remember seeing Courtney perform in a cabaret bar in Sydney in the early 2010’s and being floored by her talent, crying in awe of her bravery and representation of our community.

I want to suggest this book to EVERYONE, whether you are queer or not, interested in Drag or not, in the hope that you will enjoy the book and learn a lot about our community and what we in the queer community have to endure and the mental struggles that we have due to the hetro normative world that we live in.

I definitely identify a lot with Shane as we grew up during the same time, albeit I grew up in Sweden and he in Australia. And I can’t thank them enough for writing this. I especially LOVE that they narrated the audio book as well - such a treat! Love love love

The most uplifting, educational and eye opening book I’ve ever read

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Have loved Shane / Courtney. for well over a decade and found this story both inspiring in terms of how they have set upon living their dream but also incredible authentic, informative and brave.

Inspiring story from a superstar

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Best way to expose and extinguish an unconscious bias. This memoir deserves 10 gold stars and fairy 🧚‍♀️ dust.

Best way to expose and extinguish an unconscious bias.

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