Fame Finds The Lady Chablis in Savannah, Ga.

Scientists have realized that you can’t observe an experiment without affecting its outcome. The same applies to writing about real-life characters.

Lives change.

Take The Lady Chablis--her full legal name--of Savannah, Ga. When the female impersonator first met John Berendt, author of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” she was, in her own words, a “very tan uptown white woman with an attitude,” “a little girl with candy” who grew up in a physically abusive household to become “a 24-hour girl” with a cabaret act at Savannah’s Club One.

Now the outrageously bawdy 39-year-old is the author of a book--an autobiography titled “Hiding My Candy,” to which she already has sold the movie rights--and is about to open her own cabaret. She also is one of two colorful Savannah denizens featured on a tour of the jazz version of Berendt’s book, which comes to Fullerton on Saturday (story, F1).

First stop on the tour was Washington, D.C. “It’s not standing-room-only at the Kennedy Center,” Chablis reported by phone last week. “There’s no standing room.”

That’s not surprising. Berendt’s story--and its real-life characters, especially Chablis--have inspired huge interest since the book was published two years ago; it was one of three finalists for the Pulitzer Prize in nonfiction.

“When John’s book came out, I wasn’t expecting it to be a success,” Chablis recalled. “I was just as surprised as he was. At first I was sort of angry. I was exposed to the world. I’d been hiding my candy all my life. But then when ‘Good Morning, America’ called, I went over there real quick!”

Oprah, “Today” and People Magazine followed suit.

“It’s amazing what happened,” Chablis continued. “People are naming children after me. Book clubs of older people invite me to speak. . . .

“People say I’ve had a hard life. I’ve never looked at it that way. If things had not happened exactly the way they happened, I would not be The Doll. I would not be The Lady. Gay or straight, black or white, anybody can relate to my story, any child who’s been called fat or felt out of place. . . .”

Berendt’s book will be made into a movie directed by Clint Eastwood, and Chablis has been lobbying for a part.

“I met Clint Eastwood, and I charmed him. Needless to say, if they want an Academy Award they’ve got to have me. He can’t do it alone this time!”

Born Benjamin Edward Knox in Quincy, Fla., Chablis began dressing as a woman full-time at age 14. She takes hormone injections to help her stay in character at all times. Meeting Berendt as she left her doctor’s office was anything but chance.

“It was definitely on purpose, honey,” she said. “I ain’t stupid! Did I not pick the right white boy, honey? Mr. Berendt became my chauffeur. He knows how to drive a girl to life! And when I make a million like he has, I’m going to hire him as my chauffeur.”