Being a Crazy Girl is an identity. When Liza Stardust and her fellow cabaret dancers hit the town in Paris, wearing the signature "Crazy Rouge" lipstick, they often don't break character. Their stage names, chosen for them just before the curtain rose on their inaugural performance, have become so familiar that hearing their "real" first names can make them feel like they're in trouble. 

Showtime wasn't for a few hours, but when Stardust met me in the boudoir-like room that was once the office of Alain Bernardin, founder of The Crazy Horse cabaret, her scarlet lipstick was already in place, matching the sofas. Behind her, a ceramic table lamp was shaped like perfect, pert buttocks. 

Australia-born Stardust had never been to Paris before her Crazy Horse audition, but after two years, she feels at home here. From bookshops to where to get the best crème brûlée, she shares what to see, do, and eat in the city — once you've seen the Crazy Horse cabaret show, of course. 

If you only go to one Parisian quartier make it…

"Three. I love Le Marais, Montmartre, and Saint-Germain-des-Prés," says Stardust. "Le Marais is the one that has everything — a mix of modern and classic Paris. Grab dinner at Café Hugo on Place des Vosges: the sunset views are amazing. Just around the corner, Chez Janou makes a chocolate mousse famous all over the city."

The south bank is much maligned by Parisians. "There's this idea that it's boring, and everything interesting happens north of the river," says Stardust. "But Saint-Germain-des-Prés is one of the best places for a wander. I'm a real bookworm, and I love to go to Abbey Bookshop [on the edge of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter]. It's packed with English-language books in all genres."

Eat your way around Paris

"Paris isn't a relaxed city, but when Parisians stop for coffee or meals it seems like everyone has the luxury of time," says Stardust. It's the antithesis of her Sydney life, where mindsets seemed much more chilled out, but everyone was always rushing around with a takeaway coffee in hand. 

"Bad coffee is a problem in Paris, you can get some truly awful cappuccinos," she says. "The Coffee is an exception. It has been so successful that they've got branches all over the city now."

Alongside Stardust are dancers from Japan, the United States, and Lebanon, to name a few, a reflection of multicultural, 21st-century Paris. On a plate, it's no different. 

"I'd get pistachio and orange babka for breakfast from Babka Zana [Montmartre and Le Marais]," says Stardust. "It's brioche-like in texture."

For dinner, it's the pasta tossed in giant wheels of Parmesan at Siena that leaves her dreaming. (Double) dessert should happen at Brasserie des Prés, a colorful 180-cover institution decorated with paintings of lemons, antiques, and books. "Get a crème brûlée and lemon tart," advises Stardust. "You don't need to book, the queue moves quickly."

A perfect day in Paris

"Anywhere along the banks of the Seine is lovely, but Pont Neuf is the prettiest part," she says. "The Luxembourg Gardens are a classic, but Parc Monceau is my favorite park, particularly with a picnic in the sunshine." 

When it comes to culture, Stardust can't entirely step out of character.

"There's a series of paintings of ballet dancers in blue tutus at the Musée d'Orsay that mesmerize me," says Stardust, referring to "Danseuses" by Edgar Degas. "A museum that really surprised me was the Army Museum at Invalides. I think anyone remotely interested in history would enjoy it — it's incredible how many wars France has been involved in!" 

Crazy Girls perform 22 days a month, but that doesn't stop Stardust from taking dance classes on her days off.

"Etta d'Amour [a former Crazy Girl] runs pop-up dance classes," says Stardust. "If you're new to dance, the best ones to take are how to dance in heels."

When the curtain falls

On stage, Stardust is virtually indistinguishable from her Crazy sisters. Often dressed in nothing more than tastefully placed colored light and shadows, each muscle of their bodies seems to move in perfect unison. Off stage, they still often move as a pack — a sleek, well-dressed pack fueled by cocktails."

Le Fumoir by the Louvre is a restaurant, but they do the best espresso martinis," she says. "I have to recommend Le Marais, of course: Spootnik has a real speakeasy vibe." 

After two shows a night, performed in killer heels ("Crazy" stilettos are almost five inches high), most of us mere mortals would collapse into bed. Cabaret girls have stamina, and Stardust heads to the well-heeled Giulia Club off the Champs-Élysées in high heels after the show. Cabaret shows are just the beginning of the night for Crazy girls.