Shane Cortese
| Shane Cortese | |
|---|---|
| Born |
13 August 1968 Wellington, New Zealand |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Spouse(s) | Nerida Cortese (m. 2009) |
Shane Cortese (born 13 August 1968) is a New Zealand actor and singer. He is perhaps best known for his role of Mac on Nothing Trivial, Loki on the Almighty Johnsons and Hayden Peters on hit show Outrageous Fortune. He was also a runner-up on Season 1 of NZ Dancing with the Stars in 2005.
Cortese started his professional career as a travel agent in Palmerston North. He got involved in the amateur drama society and soon found a passion in acting. He participated in numerous plays before moving to London in 1993 to further his newfound career. Cortese trained at London's Central School of Speech and Drama. After graduating from the Musical Theatre Course in 1993, he spent 10 years touring the UK in musicals, performing several times on London's prestigious West End. His performances won critical acclaim from UK reviewers.
Whilst visiting New Zealand in 2000, Cortese auditioned for the popular soap opera Shortland Street for the role of Geoff Greenlaw. He did not receive the part and returned to England to star in the West End. He scored a major part in a production but was contacted by Shortland Street producers who announced their intention to write Cortese a character specifically for him who was to play a major part in the serial. Cortese relished the opportunity and returned to New Zealand to take the part, despite being threatened by those involved in the West End play that he would never work again. Cortese made his Shortland Street debut in early 2003 as the character of Dominic Thompson. The character stayed on screen for just under 2 years, before dying in one of the shows most iconic and well received storylines.
On 29 April 2005 he starred on the New Zealand version of Dancing with the Stars. Partnered with dancer Nerida Lister he was named runner-up on 20 June 2005. He scored a guest starring role in fantasy series Maddigan's Quest and played the lead character, "John" opposite British actress Zöe Lucker on stage in Then Comes Love. In late 2005 after appearing on Dancing with the Stars he hosted TV3's So You Think You Can Dance. In 2006 he returned to his bad boy ways, playing Hayden Peters on Rachel Lang and James Griffin's Outrageous Fortune. Cortese was pleased to have scored the title role in Burying Brian, only to discover his character was to be killed off in the first episode.
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