SPENCER SALUTE TO ‘FORGOTTEN’

CABARET Queen Carol “Carlotta” Spencer had one question after learning she was being awarded a Member of the Order of Australia.

“Does it come in earring form?”

The Surfers Paradise transgender drag performer and television personality was awarded the Order of Australia honour for her significant service to the performing arts and to the LGBTIQ community.

While she’s been in show business for 54 years, she deflects the praise and laughs while describing herself as “still a nut”.

“Poor old firemen, I think they should have given them (Australia Medals) to the firemen,” she said.

“It’s very generous. It’s a great honour, I’m still getting it together.”

The Order of Australia Awards recognise Australian citizens for achievement or meritorious service and are awarded on Australia Day or on the official

CARLOTTA AM

Queen’s Birthday.

Carlotta starred as a drag entertainer in the long-running Sydney male revue show Les Girls and was the first person with a public profile to undergo sex change surgery.

She also became the first transgender actress to play a transgender television role in Australian soap opera Number 96. She went on to appear on talk shows and continues to tour the country in stage productions.

“I think one of the biggest highlights was when I first went into television. I did seven years with Beauty and The Beast and then I did a four-and-a-half-year stint with Studio 10.

“It’s been a hard slog for acceptance. It was harder in the younger days, everything’s changed so much.

“They’ve got marriage equality now. I never