Author and drag performer Courtney Act, also known as Shane Jenek, brings her lens back to the ABC's One Plus One series for a second round of in-depth conversations with eight celebrities.
The theme is "fame" and the first episode stars much-loved Australian comedian Mark Trevorrow – it's his first long-form interview in 40 years as himself.
'One of the first glimmers of queerness'
Most Australians would know Bob Downe, one of the most loved and enduring comedy characters created by Trevorrow.
"One of the first glimmers of queerness that I saw on Australian television was when Bob Downe was on Good Morning Australia with Bert Newton back in the 90s," Courtney recalls.
A young Shane Jenek sought Trevorrow out when he first moved to Sydney from Brisbane at the age of 18, where they ended up performing on the same stages and becoming friends.
"I think Spicks and Specks was sort of the first thing he did as Mark," Courtney says, "and that was a real liberating thing for him to do as himself without the guise of Bob."
Where do I end, where do I begin?
One of the themes in this season of Courtney Act's One Plus One is navigating identity under the spotlight.
It's something Courtney has dealt with as both Shane and Courtney, and something Trevorrow has also pondered – where does Mark end and Bob begin?
"Maybe both started off as characters, but then over time sort of merged with our own personalities," Courtney says.
"In the beginning, Courtney was a way for me to express femininity and to dress up in wonderful outfits in a socially acceptable way – but really, that's just who I am."
More than skin deep
The guest list for the show is carefully selected by Courtney.
Other interviewees who have grappled with gender, sexuality and identity in the public eye include transgender actor and activist Georgie Stone and gay professional Australian soccer player Josh Cavallo.
Then there's author Renee McBryde, who shares a deeply personal story about being the daughter of a convicted murderer – a secret her mother made her keep.
"One Plus One is such a great opportunity to curate a list of people with different stories that I love and I think are great to amplify," Courtney says.
Like talking to "Tom Nash about his experience of being a DJ and also having a disability" or "Jay Laga'aia, who is famous from Playschool but also so many TV shows that we know and love, and hearing about his experience of race and the entertainment industry".
Going deep isn't a challenge for Courtney.
"I don't like small talk," she says, "actually getting to have a real, proper conversation with someone is something I much prefer."
Capturing someone's essence
One of the things Courtney appreciates about the One Plus One format is that it's not a heavily produced show, so viewers are able to watch a real conversation.
"There's no gotcha moment, there's no agenda," she says.
"It's just a pleasant conversation with somebody. And in an anxiety-producing news cycle, it's kind of lovely just to watch two people enjoying each other's company."
"All the people that I've spoken to for One Plus One are real outliers in that they're all people who didn't accept the status quo and defined who they were on who they really were," Courtney adds.
"I think there's something really exciting and empowering and beautiful about that."
Accepting our differences
Courtney is passionate about spreading awareness of difference – leading to acceptance.
That's something she hopes to achieve through these conversations.
"I've been an advocate of being yourself and expressing yourself however that might manifest in you," she says.
"The ABC tells so many wonderful stories that are different to the experience that many people have lived, and I think through that we get to foster a sense of empathy, and more patience and more acceptance of people who are different and have different experiences.
"I think that's so important right now because there's something lovely in understanding that our similarities are greater than our differences in those situations."
The new season of Courtney Act's One Plus One premieres tonight on Thursday, June 2 on the ABC.
