Carlotta (performer)

Carol Spencer "Carlotta" (born Richard Lawrence Byron in 1943)^[1][2] is an Australian entertainer, cabaret performer and television celebrity. Often billed as "The Queen of The Cross" she began her career as an original cast member of the long-running male revue Les Girls cabaret show, which started in 1963 in the purpose built and Abe Saffron-owned Les Girls (nightclub) building which stood on a prominent corner in the heart of Sydney's Kings Cross, to the right of the famous El Alamein Fountain. The revue was performed entirely by costumed males in drag and Carlotta often performed spot-numbers as a singer and comedienne. Carlotta, became a transgender woman, and rose through the ranks of the show to eventually become the show's compere and its most famous member.

Career

Les Girls and Carlotta soon became must-see attractions for visitors to Australia and in particular Sydney and the show was popular with visiting international celebrities. The show continued in the Les Girls building until 1993, when, inspired by the film Priscilla Queen of the Desert, the Les Girls show went on-the-road, touring Australia. The Les Girls building, which was still standing intact with original 1960s features, throughout the 1990s was the venue for alternative cabaret, including the much loved Sunday night club The Tender Trap.

Carlotta was featured in the soap opera Number 96 in 1973 as Robyn Ross, the new girlfriend of Arnold Feather. In the story it was soon revealed that Robyn was in fact a transsexual showgirl, a revelation that led to the character's quick departure from the show.

To preserve the shock ending to this storyline the true identity of Robyn's portrayer was kept secret from all but a few central cast and crew members of the series, her scenes were shot on a closed set, and Carlotta was credited as "Carolle Lea".

Personal life

Carlotta's sex-change operation in the early 1970s was not the first such procedure in Australia, but due to her celebrity status it became the first to receive publicity there. Carlotta was also one of the inspirations for the film Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. She had a few short breaks from Les Girls for international tours, but overall by the time she left the show for the final time in 1992 she had spent a total of 26 years performing with the troupe. She is an published author (dictation), and has been the subject of many personal memoirs.

Television and theatre

From 1997, Carlotta has been a regular panelist on the discussion program Beauty and the Beast.

In 2005, she featured in her own half a million dollar stage production, "Carlotta's KingsX", presented at the Big Top, Luna Park, Sydney. Produced by Brett Elliott and Richard Bernardo, the 90 minute show delivered classic storytelling, stand up comedy, lavish costumes, and team of 'Les Girls' dance performances throughout. Supported by massive 6x22m video backdrop, video content presented the story of Kings Cross collated from footage supplied by ABC, Channel 7 and Channel 9.

Carlotta tours Australia with her one-woman show "Carlotta: Live and Intimate".

2014 film: "Carlotta"

In 2011, it was announced FremantleMedia Australia purchased the rights to a telemovie based on her life to be broadcast by ABCTV Australia, with Carlotta acing as a consultant. Shane Jenek aka drag queen, Courtney Act, was initially linked to the project.^[3] In 2012, it was announced that Jessica Marais was to portray Carlotta.^[4] In 2013, a new production company, Story Ark Productions, begun production on the telemovie, after FremantleMedia Australia chose not to proceed with the project.^[5] Its worldwide premiere on ABCTV Australia was aired on 19 June 2014. It was the #10 show of the night, and nationally won its timeslot with 811,000 viewers.^[6]

References

External links

• "www.carlotta.com.au - Carlotta's Official Website"