BIOGRAPHY

Maria Mercedes is one of Australia’s most successful and enduring performers, as an actress, singer and recording artist , having starred as Luisa Contini in ‘Nine’, Grizabella in ‘Cats’, Svetlana in ‘Chess’, Norma Desmond in ‘Sunset Boulevard’, Mama Morton in ‘Chicago’, Miss Sherman in ‘Fame’, the Wife in ‘Seriously - Pet Shop Boys Reinterpreted’ , Power woman in ‘Menopause The Musical’, Madame Giry in ‘Love Never Dies’, Maria Callas in ‘Masterclass’, Melina Mercouri in ‘Greek Goddess’ and the Greek Fate in ‘Taxithi’.

Maria’s film credits include, Nurse Panicale in ‘Patrick’, Tasia in ‘Head On’ , Ellen in ‘Dreams for Life’ ,the doctor in the Patrick remake ‘Evil Awakens’ and Helen in ‘The Taverna’.
On the small screen she has appeared as Joyce Hirsch in ‘Miss Fisher‘s Modern Murder Mysteries’ , Margot in ‘Bloom’ , Detective Ayoub in ‘Wentworth’, Agape Makrakanis in ‘Fat Tony & Co’, Madam Breda in ‘Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries’, Lucia Cammeniti in ‘Neighbours’ , Dora Mavros in ‘Kick’, Poppy in ‘Greeks on the Roof’, Ivana in ‘Thunderstone’ and the both roles of Irene Zervos and Yemil Bakarta in Prisoner to name but a few.

Maria has also made numerous appearances on every major Australian variety show including Young Talent Time, New Faces, Graham Kennedy’s In Melbourne Tonight, The Don Lane Show, Good Morning Australia with Bert Newton, The Midday Show with Ray Martin & Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Bandstand, The Mike Walsh Show, Countdown and Hey Hey It’s Saturday.

Maria is the recipient of a Mo Award, an Aria Award – ‘Nine The Musical’ cast recording and most recently a Green Room Award for her performance as Maria Callas in ‘Master Class’.
For her role as Ellen in ‘Dreams For Life’, Maria was nominated for best actress in the Cyprus International Film Festival – in 2006.

Maria continues to perform as a singer in her own right in concerts and corporate events and most recently was seen as one of the ‘100’ judges on the tv talent show ‘All Together Now’.

Her newest passion is mentoring up and coming artists in the art of performance.

MARIA MERCEDES

BIOGRAPHY