Maria Mercedes

Who is Maria Mercedes?

Maria Mercedes is a Greek-Australian actress who has many credits in television, movies, and theatre.

Mercedes has had starring roles in the television comedy/variety series Greeks on the Roof as Poppy, the mother of Effie, and in the comedy series Kick as Dora Mavros. She has also appeared in Neighbours in a recurring role as Lucia Cammeniti.

Mercedes is known for her two appearances in the cult television series Prisoner. In 1979, she played Greek prisoner Irene Zervos and in 1985 she returned to the series to play another ethnic inmate, Yemil Bakarta. In 1981 she released a single "Then He Kissed Me", a cover version of The Crystals, produced by ex James Freud and the Radio Stars bass player Mick Prague was also performed live on Countdown. Mercedes' first movie role was as Nurse Panicale in the Australian Gothic thriller, Patrick. Mercedes appeared in the movie Head On with Alex Dimitriades, playing the role of Tasia. Mercedes starred as the alternate Norma Desmond, lead character in the original Australian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard at the Regent Theatre, Melbourne in 1996/1997 alongside Hugh Jackman as Joe Gillis. She gave almost 100 performances. In 2003, she starred in the critically acclaimed independent film by Anna Kannava, Dreams for Life. Mercedes was nominated for Best Actress in the Cypress International Film Festival for her role as Ellen in Dreams for Life.