Paul Mercurio

Feature films

Mercurio made his film debut in Baz Luhrmann's breakout film Strictly Ballroom, receiving an Australian Film Institute Award nomination in 1993.^[9] Mercurio was a choreographer on the film. For his performance in Strictly Ballroom, Mercurio was also nominated for an AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 1992, losing to Russell Crowe.^[10] Flamenco dancer Antonio Vargas, the actor who played Fran's father, also choreographed scenes in the film.^[11]

Mercurio's other film credits include: Exit to Eden, Back of Beyond, Così, Red Ribbon Blues, Welcome to Woop Woop, The Dark Planet, The First 9½ Weeks, Kick and Sydney – A Story of a City. He starred, wrote, choreographed, produced and directed the short film Spilt Milk. Most recently, Mercurio has taken roles in independent films, such as Hunting for Shadows and A Silent Agreement with director Davo Hardy.

In 2019, Mercurio appeared in a supporting role as Sal in Promised (2019), a film directed and co-produced by Nick Conidi, and starring Tina Arena, Antoniette Iesue and Daniel Berini.^[12] The film was released in Australia on 24 October 2019.^[13]

Baz Luhrmann expressed some interest in using Mercurio in Moulin Rouge to Mercurio's agent, but after a series of failed attempts to speak to Luhrmann personally, Mercurio found out that there was no role for him in the movie via the production company.^[14] He has not appeared in any other Luhrmann films and only appears briefly in Disc 4 of Red Curtain Trilogy as a pixelated image.

Concerned about being typecast early on in his film career, Mercurio turned down the role of Adam Whitely (which instead went to Guy Pearce), in the 1994 film, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.^[15]

Television

Mercurio made his TV debut in a documentary on his life called Life's Burning Desire in 1992. He starred in the lead role of Joseph in the Emmy Award-winning US TV mini-series The Bible: Joseph in 1995. Later, he joined the ensemble cast for the 1998 miniseries drama The Day of the Roses, depicting the 1977 Granville railway disaster, for which he received a Logie nomination. Throughout the 1990s, Mercurio guest-starred in Australian TV shows including Blue Heelers, All Saints, Murder Call, Medivac, Heartbreak High and Water Rats.

Mercurio was a judge on the Australian version of Dancing with the Stars until August 2008, when he was dropped from the judging panel because he was deemed "too nice" for television.^[16] He was also a judge on the New Zealand version.^[17] From 2008 to 2010 he hosted a series called Mercurio's Menu where he travelled Australia, cooking in different locations.

Dance and choreography

From 1982 until 1992, Mercurio toured with Sydney Dance Company both nationally and internationally, performing as a principal dancer and choreographing. After leaving the Sydney Dance Company, Mercurio founded the Australian Choreographic Ensemble in 1992, where he was the Director, Principal Dancer and Principal Choreographer until 1998.^[18]

Mercurio continues to dance and choreograph professionally. He has worked as a choreographer on five films, including Strictly Ballroom and the Will Smith movie I, Robot. He has choreographed an American TV campaign for Coca-Cola, the Harry M. Miller production of Jesus Christ Superstar and Annie Get Your Gun as well as numerous other stage productions. In January 2004, he appeared on stage in The Full Monty.^[18]

He received a Mo Award for Dance Performer of the Year 1992, and was nominated in 2004 for a Helpmann Award for his choreography for the musical Annie Get Your Gun.^[18]

Food

Mercurio began brewing his own beer in 1988. He then hosted three cooking television series – Tasmania's Food Trail (from 2006, for two seasons), Mercurio's Menu (from 2008 to 2010, for three seasons) and New Zealand on a Plate (2011). Following this, he appeared on the cooking segments of numerous live daytime TV shows, including a featured chef spot on Channel Nine's The Morning Show in 2013.^[19]

In 2009, Mercurio released a cookbook called Mercurio's Menu, based on his TV series, as well as “Cooking with Beer”, which were both best-sellers. In 2015, he released a third cookbook, “Kitchen Mojo”.^[19]

In 2005, Mercurio released his own beer in Victoria, and since then has held beer dinners and beer cooking demos and been a judge for international beer competitions. In 2016, he brewed Australia's first Aphrodisiac Beer "Ye Ole Horney Ale", together with BentSpoke Brewery. He then opened his own beer café in 2014, produced a range of meat rubs and condiments and formed his own company "Beerlicious". He has since cooked in restaurants and at markets and festivals.^[19]

Film

Television

Stage

TVC