Just like Julian Eltinge, Barbette had to conceal her true origins and her real personal details. We can't even be sure of the name behind the persona. Depending on who you believe, it might be Clyde Broadway, or Vander Clyde. That person was born somewhere between 1898 and 1904. We know for certain that Barbette was American and probably came from Texas, but there was little demand for a drag act in the Texas of the time. Creatives and artists were far more welcome in Paris, France, where she made her reputation.
Although she probably wouldn't recognize herself from the description 'drag queen', her female disguise was the key conceit of Barbette's performances. At the time, only women performed trapeze acts, so she stayed completely in character when she was performing her high-flying act at such shows. It was only when she moved into vaudeville that she'd 'unmask' at the end of her performances, leaving audiences speechless!
Chefs made their way into celebrity land a while ago. But how many celebrities that weren’t trained as professional cooks are actually whizzes in the kitchen? Here are several that come to mind.
Actress Julia Roberts is confident about her cooking skills. “I’m quite a good cook,” she told E! News. “I’m like a closet home ec teacher…I can really cook anything.” Roberts has said she often cooks fish for herself and her kids. And speaking of her three children, “They think that I’m a good cook,” Roberts told People. “They actually told me that I should open a restaurant.” She also relishes cooking for the holidays, particularly shredded Brussel sprouts. Roberts hasn’t published a cookbook, but we did find recipes attributed to her for peach crisp and banana hemp muffins. Or you can make the same summer salad the actress supposedly eats.
Chrissy Teigen started off as a supermodel. Then her love of cooking filtered into her professional life too. At this point, she’s created recipes for a limited Blue Apron release and also just launched her own home and cooking line at Target named “Cravings,” after the two cookbooks she’s released. Teigen describes cooking as “a time of peace” for herself. So maybe peace out to her tuna melt sandwich or the fried chicken wings that are a favorite of her husband, John Legend.
Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, comes from a cooking Italian family. Her father started his own restaurant in New York and also published a cookbook. And apparently, Lady Gaga has inherited the family’s cooking genes. Her Instagram account occasionally features photos of her culinary activities. Sure, sometimes it’s topless cooking. But other times it’s more poignant like in the post she shared about her bringing food to the family of her dear friend who passed away. Want to try a Gaga/Germanotta family favorite? Check out her recipe for whole wheat pasta with a sweet fennel sauce.