Paul Joseph Mercurio AM (born 31 March 1963) is an Australian actor, choreographer, dancer, TV presenter and politician.
Flamenco dancer Antonio Vargas, the actor who played Fran's father, also choreographed scenes in the film.
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.
Later, he joined the ensemble cast for the 1998 mini-series 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.
From 1982 until 1992 Mercurio toured with Sydney Dance Company both nationally and internationally, performing as a principal dancer and choreographing.
[18] In November 2022, Mercurio was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly, winning the ultra-marginal seat of Hastings for the Australian Labor Party.
[1] Mercurio has been married to his wife Andrea (who was a ballerina with The Australian Ballet and Sydney Dance Company) since 1987, and together they have three children: Emily, Elise and Erin.
The oldest is a stage manager, the middle is a musical theatre actor and writer, and the youngest is a vet nurse and performs as a pop singer.