MORE than a decade on from Australian Idol, Courtney Act is making her mark in the United States.

Courtney Act, the stage name of Sydney performer Shane Jenek, is gearing up for this month’s final of hit American reality series, Ru Paul’s Drag Race.

“Idol began it all,” Jenek told Confidential from Los Angeles.

media_camera Where it all began: Courtney, aka Shane Jenek, far left, with Australian Idol contestants Guy Sebastian, Shannon Noll and Robert Mills. Judge Ian Dickson is second from right.

“I turned that 15 minutes of fame into a full hour special and I joke now, god I’ve been flogging Australian Idol for nearly 11 years, imagine what being down to the final whatever on Ru Paul’s Drag Race is going to do for me. I will be flogging that til death.”

Alongside Guy Sebastian, Shannon Noll and Rob Mills, Jenek translated his appearance on the first season of Australian Idol into a professional entertainment career.

media_camera ... and after as Courtney Act. media_camera Shane Jenek before ...

He moved to LA several years ago after becoming a regular on Australian television and releasing his own pop music here.

In the US, he’s become one of the best known drag performers on the circuit. And Ru Paul’s Drag Race has cemented that position.

“I had all of my Idol and television and music experience and I went into Drag Race thinking I was in with a pretty good chance,” he said. “I was really genuinely humbled by how genuinely talented all the girls were.”

media_camera Jenek performs with Mixed Spice - Lisa and Jessica Origliasso (now the Veronicas) and Rebecca Kneen at Caboolture Celebrities Freeday

The Australian run of the series is set to premiere on Foxtel’s Lifestyle You channel on May 28 at 9.30pm (please keep this reference in)

The final will take place in Las Vegas on May 19 and will be watched by millions of viewers internationally. While Jenek says his alter ego has a one in four chance of taking out the title (Darienne Lake, Adore Delano and Bianca Del Rio are still in the competition), he’s not expecting to win.

media_camera Centre of attention: Courtney Act. Picture: Magnus Hastings

“I guess you could call it a coronation,” he laughed.

“Drag is so colourful and fun and people just love to see it.”

Who does Jenek expect to win?

“I think calling an Australian America’s next big drag superstar might be a bit of a stretch. I feel that the crown is going to go to Bianca but hey, I’d love to win.”

Originally published as Courtney’s next Act: take on the US