Maria Mercedes (actress)

Maria Mercedes is a Greek-Australian television, film and stage actress. Her notable roles include the original Australian productions of the musicals Nine, Sunset Boulevard and Love Never Dies.

Mercedes' career began in 1973 when she won the Grand Final singing contests of both Young Talent Time and New Faces.

In 1981, she released a single titled "Then He Kissed Me", a cover version of The Crystals song, produced by James Freud and the Radio Stars bass player, Mick Prague and Molly Meldrum. It was also performed live on Countdown and Hey Hey It's Saturday.

Mercedes is most widely known for her roles in musical theatre in Australia.

She played the role of Luisa Contini in the 1987/88 original Australian production of Nine, the cast recording of which won an ARIA Award.

Mercedes starred as the alternate Norma Desmond in the original Australian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard at the Regent Theatre, Melbourne in 1996/1997 alongside Hugh Jackman. She eventually took over the role, giving almost 100 performances.

In 2006 and 2007 she appeared in the musical Pet Shop Boys Re-Interpretered in Melbourne for the Midsumma Festival at Chapel Off Chapel and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland in 2007.

...
Wikipedia