Paul Mercurio reveals why he doesn’t want to be considered a ‘politician’ – after being confirmed as the Labor candidate for Hastings in the next Victorian state election
Paul Mercurio has officially stepped into a new career in politics despite claiming he doesn’t want to be regarded as a ‘politician’.
The renowned actor, best known for his leading role in Baz Luhrmann’s 1992 film Strictly Ballroom, was confirmed as the Labor candidate for the seat of Hastings in Melbourne’s outer south east on Monday afternoon.
Paul, 58, told NCA Newswire on Wednesday that he will be crossing into new territory in his run for state parliament after he previously sat on the Mornington Peninsula Shire council.
Strictly politics: Paul Mercurio explained why he doesn’t want to be considered a ‘politician’ on Wednesday, after being confirmed as the Labor candidate running for the seat of Hastings in the next Victorian state election
‘I never meant to be in the political space and it’s a new kind of area for me,’ he said.
The entrepreneur, who operates his own food business, revealed in the interview that his main drive to run was the belief the he could do ‘more as an MP rather than a councillor’.
‘I thought I’d just test the waters and of course now here I am as the candidate,’ he stated.
A big change: Paul, 58, told NCA Newswire on Wednesday that he will be crossing into new territory in his run for state parliament, after he previously sat on the Mornington Peninsula Shire council
Paul says while he is ‘honoured’ to run as the Labor candidate for Hastings, he will still be focused on his local council role.
The actor explained that he doesn’t want to be considered a ‘politician’ but instead someone who has had a ‘varied life experience’ that secretly aspired to be in politics.
Paul stressed the importance of listening to ‘those in the community and their concerns’.
‘I can offer an open heart and open ears,’ he added.
‘I can offer an open heart and open ears’: The entrepreneur explained that he doesn’t want to be considered a ‘politician’ but instead someone who has had a ‘varied life experience’
Hastings is generally considered to be safe conservative seat for the Liberal Party in Victoria.
The district is currently held by Liberal MP Neale Burgess, who has held it since the 2006 Victorian state election.
Burgess announced in November that he would not re-contest Hastings for the 2022 Victorian state election.
As seen in: Mercurio is best known for his starring role in Baz Luhrmann’s 1992 debut feature film Strictly Ballroom
Mercurio is best known for his starring role in Baz Luhrmann’s 1992 debut feature film Strictly Ballroom
Paul’s last acting appearance was on the TV soap Neighbours in 2020.
He has mostly starred in independent productions over the past decade, opting instead to focus on running his own food business Beerlicious.
What he’s doing now: Paul’s last acting appearance was on the TV soap Neighbours in 2020. He has mostly starred in independent productions over the past decade, opting instead to focus on running his own food business Beerlicious