Maria Moutsidis (Greek: Μαρία Μουτσίδη, romanized: María Moutsídi), known professionally as Maria Mercedes, is a Greek-descended Australian television, film and stage actress, performer and singer. She is a mezzo soprano[1][2]
Maria Mercedes | |
|---|---|
| Born | Maria Moutsidi |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, performer, singer[1] |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Known for | Nine Sunset Boulevard Love Never Dies Neighbours Kick |
Early life
editMercedes was born in Melbourne to parents George and Dionisia Moutsidis, a working class couple who emigrated via ship to Australia from Greece, seeking better prospects. Her father had been as aspiring actor in Greece.[3][4] She attended Brunswick High School in Melbourne.[5]
Career
editEarly career
editMercedes' performing career began in 1973 after winning singing contests on both Young Talent Time and New Faces. After subsequently performing on The Graham Kennedy Show, she was persuaded to change her last name from 'Moutsidis' to the stage name of 'Mercedes', after Kennedy struggled to pronounce her name.[6] By the age of 16, she was singing around Australia, in concerts and variety shows.[7]
In 1981, she released a cover version of The Crystals' "Then He Kissed Me", which she performed live on Countdown and Hey Hey It's Saturday.
Stage
editMercedes has appeared in numerous musical stage productions, having played Luisa Contini in Nine, Grizabella in Cats, Svetlana in Chess, 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 Andrew Lloyd Webber's sequel to Phantom of the Opera – Love Never Dies and Melina Mercouri in Greek Goddess.[8]
From 1996 to 1997, Mercedes received critical acclaim starring as the alternate Norma Desmond in the original Australian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard opposite Hugh Jackman. She eventually took over the role, giving almost 100 performances.[9] In 2004, Mercedes was the first woman in the world to play Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Show.[10] The performance was a charity show for "Variety", performed with the cast of Neighbours. She had previously toured Australia, playing the role of Magenta in a 1985 production.[11]
Together with Kiyomi Vella, Susie Ahern and Ben Mingay, Mercedes performed in The Songs of James Bond, a two-hour concert featuring twenty two songs from the James Bond films.[12]
In 2014 and 2015, Mercedes played opera star Maria Callas in the Terrence McNally play Master Class in Melbourne[13] and at the Hayes Theatre in Sydney. In 2016, she joined the cast of the Greek-Australian migration play Taxithi by Helen Yotis Patterson, allowing her, for the first time in her theatrical career, to sing in Greek.[14][3] In 2023, Mercedes took on the role of The Witch in a production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods with the West Australian Opera.[15]
Film and television
editMercedes' film roles include Nurse Panicale in 1978 cult thriller Patrick and Tasia in 1998 LGBTQ independent film Head On (alongside Alex Dimitriades). She was in 2004 film Dreams for Life playing the lead role of Ellen, a Greek woman hoping to make it as a dancer, much to the disapproval of her parents. She reprised her lauded stage role of Madame Giry in a 2012 film version of Love Never Dies. The following year, she appeared in the 2013 remake of Patrick, this time playing the role of the doctor. In 2018, she played Helen in 2018 film The Taverna.
Mercedes' television credits include two recurring roles as Irene Zervos and Yemmi Bakarta in cult series Prisoner and also appeared as Detective Ayoub in its reimagining Wentworth. She appeared in a recurring capacity as Shirley Maclaine in soap opera E Street in 1993, and then featured in two TV movies – 1995's Cody: The Wrong Stuff and 1996's Whipping Boy. Mercedes played recurring roles in long-running soap opera Neighbours, firstly from 2004 to 2005 as Lucia Cammeniti, then in 2007 as Estelle Petrides. That same year, she starred as Dora Mavros in SBS miniseries Kick.
Mercedes had guest roles in several police procedural series Division 4, Homicide, Bluey and Cop Shop. She guested in drama Patrol Boat, police series Special Squad, sci-fi series Thunderstone, detective mystery Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and its spin-off Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries and comedy drama House Husbands. Mercedes also had guest roles in the Underbelly spin-off Fat Tony & Co. (based on the true story of criminal Tony Mokbel's capture in Greece), comedy web miniseries Footballer Wants a Wife, sci-fi mystery-drama Bloom and drama-thriller The Tourist (along side Irish actor Jamie Dornan and an international cast).
Mercedes has also performed as a singer on numerous variety shows including Young Talent Time, New Faces, In Melbourne Tonight, The Don Lane Show, Good Morning Australia, The Midday Show, Bandstand, The Mike Walsh Show, Countdown, Hey Hey It's Saturday and Greeks on the Roof. She continues to perform in concerts and at events, and also mentors emerging performance artists.[16] She cites her musical influences as being Shirley Bassey and Cher.[17]
Personal life
editMercedes has been open about having been sexually abused at the hands of a Hawthorn-based Greek doctor in Melbourne, before the age of 21, leading to her suffering from panic attacks and chronic anxiety. In total, 48 women came forward to accuse the since retired doctor of similar incidents occurring between 1978 and 2004. The case was brought before court, before ultimately being dropped due to the doctor being deemed 'unfit to face trial' due to cognitive impairment. He handed in his licence and retired in 2017.[18][19]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Patrick | Nurse Panicale | Feature film |
| 1998 | Head On | Tasia | Feature film |
| 2004 | Dreams for Life | Ellen | Feature film |
| 2012 | Love Never Dies | Madame Giry | Feature film |
| 2013 | Patrick | Ed's Doctor | Feature film (remake) |
| 2019 | The Taverna | Helen | Feature film |
| 2023 | So Much Smoke | Angelina | Short film |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974; 1975 | Division 4 | Factory Girl / Christina Lamorica | 2 episodes |
| 1975 | Homicide | Francesca Carlotti / Anna Petrelli | 2 episodes |
| 1977 | Bluey | Teresa | Episode 18: "Stop the Press" |
| 1978 | Cop Shop | Judy | 1 episode |
| 1979 | Patrol Boat | Episode: "Which Way's Mecca?" | |
| 1979; 1984–1985 | Prisoner | Irene Zervos / Yemmi Bakarta | 5 episodes / 10 episodes |
| 1984 | Special Squad | Maria Baxter | Episode 28: "Hot Streets" |
| 1993 | E Street | Shirley Maclaine | 4 episodes |
| 1995 | Cody: The Wrong Stuff | Raquel | TV movie |
| 1996 | Whipping Boy | Saphra | TV movie |
| 1999 | Thunderstone | Ivana | 2 episodes |
| 2003 | Greeks on the Roof | Poppy | 11 episodes |
| 2004–2005; 2007 | Neighbours | Lucia Cammeniti / Estelle Petrides | 6 episodes / 16 episodes |
| 2007 | Kick | Dora Mavros | Miniseries, 13 episodes |
| 2012 | Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries | Madame Breda | Episode: "Cocaine Blues" |
| 2013 | House Husbands | Mrs. Panas | 1 episode |
| 2014 | Fat Tony & Co | Agape Makrakanis | 1 episode |
| 2015 | Footballer Wants a Wife | Mama | 2 episodes |
| 2017–2018 | Wentworth | Detective Ayoub | 3 episodes |
| 2019 | Bloom | Margot | 3 episodes |
| 2019 | Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries | Joyce Hirsch | Episode: "Just Murdered" |
| 2022 | The Tourist | Freddie Lanagan | 2 episodes |
Other appearances
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | New Faces | Contestant | 3 episodes |
| Young Talent Time | Contestant (singing "This Is My Life") | 1 episode | |
| 1973; 1975 | The Graham Kennedy Show | Performer / singer | 2 episodes |
| 1974 | Ted Hamilton's Musical World | Singer | 1 episode |
| 1974–1975 | The Ernie Sigley Show | Regular performer / singer | 11 episodes |
| 1975 | Young Talent Time | Guest performer | 1 episode |
| Australian Popular Song Festival | Singer / performer | TV special | |
| 1976 | Bandstand '76 | Singer | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1978 | The Don Lane Show | Singer / performer | 1 episode |
| 1988 | Hey Hey It's Saturday | Performer (singing "My Husband Makes Movies") | 1 episode |
| 1988–1989 | The Bert Newton Show | Regular performer | 8 episodes |
| 1989 | Hey Hey It's Saturday | Performer (singing "I Know Him So Well" with Jodie Gillies) | 1 episode |
| 1997 | Hey Hey It's Saturday | Performer (singing "Promises, Promises" with Jackie Rees) | 1 episode |
| Sale of the Century | Contestant | 1 episode |
Theatre
edit| Year | Title | Role | Venue / Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Maria Mercedes | Herself | Palais Royale, Newcastle |
| 1985 | The Rocky Horror Show | Magenta / Usherette | VIC, TAS & ACT tour |
| 1988 | Cats | Grizabella | Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne with Cameron Mackintosh Productions[20] |
| 1987–1988 | Nine | Luisa Contini | Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Festival Theatre, Adelaide, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney |
| 1990 | Chess | Svetlana Sergievsky | Theatre Royal, Sydney |
| 1991 | Forbidden Broadway | Liza / Barbra / Chita | Kinselas, Sydney |
| 1991 | Wherefore Art Thou Cabaret? | Hayden Room, Sydney | |
| 1992 | Shadow and Splendour | Sophie Lenz / Mozart singer | Suncorp Theatre, Brisbane for |
| 1993 | A Bedfull of Foreigners | West End Rialto, Brisbane, Seymour Centre, Playhouse Adelaide | |
| 1996 | And the World Goes ‘Round | Sydney Opera House | |
| 1996 | Sunset Boulevard | Norma Desmond | Regent Theatre, Melbourne |
| 1997 | A One Night Stand with the Stars of Australian Musical Theatre | Singer | Melbourne Athenaeum |
| 1999 | Zorba the Greek | The Leader | Capitol Theatre, Sydney |
| 2000 | Gypsy | Miss Mazeppa | State Theatre, Melbourne for The Production Company |
| 2000 | Chicago | Mama Morton | Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane & Asian tour |
| 2001 | The Vagina Monologues | ||
| 2000; 2002 | Fame | Miss Sherman | Adelaide Festival Theatre & Asian tour |
| 2004 | The Rocky Horror Show (charity show for "Variety") | Dr Frank N Furter | with the cast of Neighbours |
| 2006; 2007 | Seriously – Pet Shop Boys Reinterpreted | The Wife | Chapel Off Chapel for Midsumma Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival |
| 2008–2010 | Menopause The Musical | Power Woman / The Soap Star | Australian tour |
| 2010 | Words and Music from Life's a Circus & More | Notes, Newtown | |
| 2012 | Love Never Dies (sequel to Phantom of the Ooera) | Madame Giry | Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Regent Theatre, Melbourne |
| 2013 | The Songs of James Bond concert | Singer | Melbourne Athenaeum |
| 2014–2016 | Master Class | Maria Callas | Fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne, Hayes Theatre Sydney, Geelong Arts Centre, Whitehorse Centre, Frankston Arts Centre |
| 2017 | Greek Goddess | Melina Mercouri | Black Box Theatre, Melbourne, Gasworks Theatre, Melbourne[21] |
| 2016; 2019 | Taxithi – An Australian Odyssey | The Greek Fate | Fortyfivedownstairs, Space Theatre, Adelaide |
| 2019–2020 | Anthem | Playhouse, Melbourne, Roslyn Packer Theatre with Performing Lines for Melbourne International Arts Festival & Sydney Festival | |
| 2023 | Bloom | Betty / Chef | Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC |
| 2023 | Into the Woods | The Witch | West Australian Opera |
| 2024 | Candide | Old Lady | Palais Theatre, Melbourne |
Awards
edit| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Nine: The Musical | Mo Award | Won | |
| 1987 | Nine: The Musical | ARIA Award | Best Original Soundtrack or Cast Album | Won |
| 1987 | Nine: The Musical | Green Room Award | Best Actress in a Musical | Nominated |
| 1988 | Nine: The Musical | Sydney Theatre Critics Awards | Best Actress in a Musical | Nominated |
| 2006 | Dreams for Life | Cyprus International Film Festival | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Nominated |
| 2015 | Master Class | Green Room Award | Outstanding Female Performer (Independent Theatre) | Won |
References
edit- ^ a b "Maria Mercedes". AusStage.
- ^ "A migrant daughter's struggle to identify". Neos Kosmos. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
- ^ a b "A migrant daughter's struggle to identify". 2 March 2016.
- ^ "Maria's diamonds are forever". Neos Kosmos. 30 October 2013.
- ^ "Maria Mercedes". LinkedIn.
- ^ "How Maria Mercedes' career came full circle". Neos Kosmos. 22 October 2018.
- ^ "Maria's diamonds are forever". Neos Kosmos. 30 October 2013.
- ^ "Maria Mercedes". AusStage.
- ^ "Sunset Boulevard". Theatregold.
- ^ "Maria's diamonds are forever". Neos Kosmos. 30 October 2013.
- ^ "Maria Mercedes". AusStage.
- ^ "The Songs of James Bond". Australian Arts Review. 18 September 2013.
- ^ "Theatre review: Master Class a masterful tribute to Maria Callas". The Sydney Morning Herald. 21 August 2014.
- ^ "TAXITHI: An Australian Odyssey". fortyfivedownstairs.
- ^ "Maria Mercedes to play iconic role in upcoming musical at West Australian Opera". The Greek Herald. 1 December 2022.
- ^ "Maria Mercedes – Biography". mariamercedes.com.au.
- ^ "How Maria Mercedes' career came full circle". Neos Kosmos. 22 October 2018.
- ^ "How Maria Moutsidis found the strength to face a haunting experience from her past". Neos Kosmos. 23 November 2018.
- ^ "Police probe over retired Greek Australian GP accused of sex abuse". Neos Kosmos. 19 December 2018.
- ^ "Cats - 18".
- ^ "Maria Mercedes: Greek Goddess". 27 June 2017.
- ^ "Maria Mercedes". AusStage.
External links
edit- Maria Mercedes at IMDb
- Website: https://mariamercades.com.au
- Album Recording 2024