{"id":287602,"date":"2025-11-16T04:58:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-16T04:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/287602\/"},"modified":"2025-11-16T04:58:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-16T04:58:10","slug":"australias-gift-to-cabaret-les-girls-legend-carlotta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/287602\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia’s gift to cabaret: Les Girls legend, Carlotta"},"content":{"rendered":"

Transgender Australian cabaret performer <\/a>Carlotta<\/a> was awarded<\/a> the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2020 for services to the performing arts and the LGBTQI+ community. (Photo, circa 2000.)<\/p>\n

According to Wikipedia<\/a>, ‘Carlotta began her professional career in 1959’:<\/p>\n

… as an original cast member of the long-running\u00a0Sydney-based male revue\u00a0Les Girls cabaret show, which had an international following, in Sydney’s\u00a0Kings Cros<\/a>s. Carlotta performed spot numbers as a singer and comedian\u00a0and eventually became the show’s\u00a0compere\u00a0and lead attraction.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Although best known as a cabaret performer, in 1974 Carlotta appeared briefly on the television series\u00a0Number 96<\/a>\u00a0as Miss Robyn Ross, in a comedic storyline that saw her coming out as transgender… Her appearance on the show marked the first time a transgender character was portrayed by a transgender actor worldwide.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

As a TV presenter, Carlotta was a featured panelist on\u00a0talk show\u00a0Beauty and the Beast<\/a>, as well as a regular guest on the entertainment program\u00a0Studio 10<\/a><\/p>\n

**This photograph is part of an IA series that looks at Australia through the lens of award-winning photojournalist Bill McAuley<\/a>.**<\/p>\n

Bill McAuley<\/a>‘s 40-plus-year news career began in 1969 as a cadet photographer at ‘The Age’ in Melbourne.<\/p>\n

He has several published collections<\/a>, including ‘Portraits of the Soul: A lifetime of images with Bill McAuley’ and\u00a0‘Last light on Victoria Dock, 1999<\/a>‘. To see more from Bill, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSupport independent journalism Subscribe<\/a>\u00a0to IA.\n\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Related Articles <\/p>\n

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