About

I have got loads to tell you but I will keep it brief, so here goes... I think you will all have to take my word for it that I didn't grow up always wanting to be a drag queen. After trying several careers I fell back into it after friends dared me to enter a talent competition at the Black Cap (Camden Town). I would give you the date but I'm not stupid and frankly I can't remember!
 

I will tell you that I borrowed a halter-neck top and a black skirt from my mum because I wanted to be like Liza Minnelli and, quelle-surprise, I won. I'd like to say my career took off from there, but it didn't - nobody booked me! So, to cut a long story short (pity they couldn't do that with my nose), after three long years working in the hostess clubs in the west end I finally got my break on the scene thanks to the legendary Roy Alvis.
 

He lead me into the revue which then lead to a successful couple of years at the Union Tavern in Camberwell. From this I met the wonderful David Raven AKA Maisie Trollette, but more about that later. In the meantime, I met Dee Darnell and we formed Double D. As a duo, we performed all over the country plus we got to travel to Denmark, Morocco and - shock-horror - the first English drag act in Israel.
 

Perhaps this is a good time to tell you that all this time I never uttered a word on stage, we mimed, danced and did fire-eating much to my mum's horror. At this stage we returned to Maisie who was one half of the hugely successful and hysterical Trollettes. Maisie asked me to do an alternative panto LIVE! I won't go into too many details but after one performance, which my parents attended, I introduced them to Maisie who told them if I ever mimed again I would be stupid - the rest, as they say, is history.
 

I really got a taste for talking, in fact from that moment I never have shut up! I wanted to experience all forms of entertainment. I have been lucky enough to achieve most of my ambitions. I feel privileged to have worked on the scene with the cream of drag, aside from Maisie; Jimmy Trollette, Tony Sinclair, Dr Evandne Hinge, Sandra, Lola Lasagne, Phil Starr and, of course, the great Lily Savage and many more. But I must also pay tribute to the artiste's that are no longer with us, these include the genius of Lee Paris, Dockyard Doris, Andre Adore and two of my dearest friends Terri Gardener and Nicky Youngwhom I still miss.
 

I have to say one of my greatest joys of doing an act has to be with Michael Topping AKA Malitza, this was not only a meeting of talents, it was one of minds as well. One of the things I enjoy about my work is what my colleagues would say dangerous ad-lib, which basically means talking shite off the top of my head! Well, Michael was right there with me, we had a great time together and I am grateful to have done the acts, theatre, panto, television and of course film - actually I am not that grateful, it's bloody hard work but I love it and am very proud to be called a drag queen, hmm in fact I am just happy to be called.....!
 

Last year, I had the joy of working with a huge all-star cast in pantomime at the Wimbledon Theatre. Not having done Panto for a few years it was the cast and the lavish new production of Cinderella with First Family that tempted me back. Also, being in London, I could still keep on a few gigs and come home which was great. We started rehearsals at Jerwood Space Studios near London Bridge. The first day I walked into the wrong room and found myself taking part in Aladin until I was thrown out by Chris Biggins and Patsy Kensit and told to go and be an ugly sister.
 

The cast for my panto included Richard Wilson as Baron (Daddy!), the lovely Susan Hampshire as Fairy Godmother, Peter Duncan as Buttons (who also directed), John Barrowman as the gorgeous Prince and Channel Five's Naomi Wilkinson as Cinderella with the hysterical Tim Vine as Dandini. I was partnered this year with Stevie Marc.  I did wonder how this cast would get on as some of them had never done panto before. As the days went by, I realised that I was actually going to have a wonderful time and I did. Lots of laughs, drama and applause - and that was even before we got to the theatre.
 

It was at this time that an offer came through my agents to audition for a new play called Diamond. It meant that I would have to rehearse through the last week of panto and open 2 weeks later, which at the time I felt that I would be too exhausted to do - so I was unsure about going up for it. I wasn't sleeping well at the time so Tamzin, my manager, said "why don't you read the whole script and see what you think?" I did, and absolutley fell in love with the part. Linda Wilkinson's writing had such honesty and warmth that it moved me, so I had to go to the audition. I got the role, finished panto and Diamond was as fantastic as I thought it would be. I played Diamond Lil, a real character from the East End and it is set in war time.
 

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