Like her brothers and sisters, she had an interest in the theatre. She spent time at Drury Lane, where her father was manager, and in 1729, when she was sixteen, she was courted by the composer and violinist Richard Charke, and the two were married on 4 February 1730, only six months after. A short-lived marriage since she believed Mr. Charke only wanted to reap the rewards of being "Mr Colley Cibber's son-in-law", due to a disastrous financial status. Once married, Charlotte, no longer a minor to her parents, began to appear on stage. In her memoirs she speaks of her admiration for the 'perfect' Mrs. Anne Oldfield whom encouraged her "hopes of success". She made her debut, when she was 17 years old, on 8 April 1730 in the stereotypically ultra-feminine minor role of Mademoiselle in "The Provok'd Wife," by John Vanbrugh, at Drury Lane. She had to stop performing soon thereafter, however, when she discovered that she was pregnant. Her daughter, Catherine (also known as Kitty), was born in December 1730. By June 1731, Charlotte was back on stage as Lucy in "The London Merchant" by George Lillo. In July of that year she made her first appearance in a breeches role as Tragedo in the same play and followed that the next year with Roderigo in "Othello." Charlotte also became fascinated and quite talented at playing travesty roles, male roles played by women. She would later appear as Mrs. Slammerkin in "The Beggar's Opera" and the tomboyish Hoyden in "The Relapse." Around this time, Charke began wearing male clothing off the stage as well, although intermittently.