Paul Joseph Mercurio was born with a passion for dance, inspired by the iconic moves of Elvis Presley in Jailhouse Rock at the tender age of nine. His mother, Jean, noticing his enthusiasm, enrolled him in a local ballet school, which marked the beginning of his remarkable journey.
Paul's talent and dedication led him to the John Curtin College of the Arts, a scholarship at the West Australian Ballet Company, and eventually, the prestigious Australian Ballet School in Melbourne. However, he found himself an outsider in this new environment, struggling to fit in with his peers.
Despite this, Paul persevered and eventually received an offer from the renowned Sydney Dance Company. He worked tirelessly, honing his craft and collaborating with the company's brilliant director, Graeme Murphy. During this period, he met his future wife, Andrea Toy, and they were married in 1987.
In 1992, Paul was approached by director Baz Luhrmann to contribute choreography to his debut work, Strictly Ballroom. Luhrmann, an old friend, offered Paul the lead role, which catapulted him to overnight stardom as an icon of sensuality.
As his fame grew, Paul's career became increasingly busy. He began choreographing for productions like Jesus Christ, Superstar, and started his own dance company, the Australian Choreographic Ensemble (ACE). He also juggled his family life, which included two young daughters.
On the film front, Paul appeared in movies like Back of Beyond and Exit to Eden, but the latter's poor reception and poor marketing led to a box-office flop. Despite this, he continued to work in television and film, taking on roles in series like Medivac and appearing in low-profile movies.
In 1997, Paul's passion for beer led to a partnership with Coopers, which ultimately helped bail out ACE when government funding dried up. Although the company disbanded in 1998, Paul continued to work in film and television, making locally-produced movies and occasionally touring with stage productions.
Today, Paul remains busy, balancing his work with his family life. He has recently opted to move back to Sydney, away from the bright lights of Los Angeles, to focus on his priorities and spend more time with his three daughters. While his fans may hope for more, Paul seems content with his choices and is looking forward to the future, possibly opening his own brewpub and watching his daughters grow.
