The younghest of twelve children of the former actress Katherine Shore and the actor and dramatist Colley Cibber, Charke manifested unconventional behaviour from her youth onwards, engaging in manly pursuits such as shooting and hunting, and cross-dressing as a man in later life. In today's terms she might have been described as queer, possibly lesbian.

She was educated at Mrs Draper's school in Westminster and at home. Charlotte married Richard Charke, an actor and musician, when she was seenteen, but left him because of his infidelity. She had a daughter, Katerine or Kitty, by him. Subsequent to this marriage, she married John Sachervelle but left him after two months.

Charke embarked on a series of careers, including as a drawer or barmaid in a pub, a sausage seller, and a valet. She also pursued her acting and writing careers. Initially she worked as an actress playing both men and women. For a time she worked with the troupe of the writer and dramatist Henry Fielding, and then embarked on other kinds of work.

She began cross-dressing and became "Mr Charles", an tinerant actor and show assistant. For eight years she, Kitty, and Charke's friend "Mrs Brown" toures the provinces, with Charke appearing as "Mr Brown". Charke died impoverished.