Jessica Marais protective of trail-blazer Carlotta

Jessica Marais admits it’s hard for her to talk about Carlotta, the transsexual Les Girl performer she portrays in ABC1’s upcoming telemovie.

In filming the project she formed a close bond with Carol Lee, who was born as Richard Byron but went on to become one of the first Australian to undergo gender reassignment.

“You have Carlotta and you have Carol and they’re two completely separate people. Carol herself is incredibly vulnerable and is really quite open as Carlotta,” says Marais.

“It’s hard for me to talk about because I feel very protective of her. I think what she achieved was so monumental but it’s really difficult for me to make a comment on it. All I wanted to do was replicate what she went through in her early days.

“I’d been attached for a long time and Carol was very supportive of me being cast in the project. It’s one of those ones that felt very special and I remember being incredibly emotional on the last day. More so than I have been on other things.

“I think it’s because I love her so much. And it’s a real life story.”

As part of the King’s Cross Les Girls troupe, Carlotta performed from the 1960s but as an ambassador for rebellion and individuality, she became well-known beyond Sydney’s gay community.

Marais says ABC’s telemovie seeks to shed light on her early struggle in the change from boy to woman.

“We were trying to tell a part of her story that people were not familiar with,” Marais explains.

“She was the first person in Australia to have the operation and at that time it was a lot more risky. She had to sign documents saying (in case she didn’t) wake up.

“So she really was a trailblazer.

“It was incredibly controversial in Australia.”

At various times in the drama Marais must play a male, a male in drag, and a transsexual woman. For an actress who has been the darling of a wholesome family such as Packed to the Rafters it was a bold career move but she relished the unique opportunities it afforded her.

“Most actors who are of a real acting ilk, I suppose, want bold. For me it was phenomenal and everybody who was involved seem to be involved for the love of the project,” she says.

“Usually as a woman there is so much pressure to be beautiful and to be the stereotypical television (star). There was a huge pressure taken off me by not having that responsibility. I really loved it.

“It was confronting at first because it’s all I’ve ever known but luckily I had Sam Lane (director), Ric (Pellizzeri, producer), Lara (Radulovich, producer), and they all supported me 100% and my amazing hair and make-up team.

“There was something wonderful about not having that pressure of being a beautiful woman and going through the phases.”

To affect the role of a young male, Marais wore costume pieces to suppress her figure, and adopted a low-range voice.

“I’ve always had a gravelly voice anyway, I think that’s why Carol wanted me for the part.”

Her research included looking at documentaries, movies and the transgender TV drama starring Chloe Sevigny.

“It was all about trying to find the reality so I looked at a lot of documentary footage. Obviously we’ve all seen Boys Don’t Cry but Hit and Miss was one I was watching particularly because I just thought it was ground-breaking.”

Also appearing in the cast are Anita Hegh, Alex Dimitriadis, Eamon Farren, Ryan Johnson, Caroline O’Connor, Andrew Lees and Socratis Otto, some of whom play her fellow showgirls.

“Socratis was amazing, but all the boys…” she sighs.

“All those boys were so kind and so wonderful, informative, supportive. They were all better dancers and they all looked prettier than me.”

Marais is also a big fan of Paul Capsis (pictured, left), who plays Les Girls’ support, Stefan.

“Divine. I love him. That can go on the record. I love Paul Capsis more than life!” she exclaims.

“He has the softest, most-beautiful hands.”

Marais, who is filming a second season of Love Child, is clearly a believer in the politics and the personal story of Carlotta, mindful of the responsibility of portraying a non-fictional character.

“When you’re trying to emulate a part of someone’s life and they’re still alive… she is someone who has been so wonderful,” she says.

“It’s not your everyday rehashing of a bit of drama and you’re not making a new character. So what I was trying to do was to not make a mockery of it.

“She seems happy so that’s good.”

Carlotta premieres 8:30pm Thursday June 19 on ABC1.