Shane Cortese

Shane Cortese (born 13 August 1968) is a New Zealand actor and singer. He is perhaps best known for his role of Mac on Nothing Trivial, Loki on the Almighty Johnsons and Hayden Peters on the hit show Outrageous Fortune. He was also a runner-up on Season 1 of NZ Dancing with the Stars in 2005.

Career Cortese started his professional career as a travel agent in Palmerston North. He got involved in the amateur drama society and soon found a passion in acting. He participated in numerous plays before moving to London in 1993 to further his newfound career. Cortese trained at London's Central School of Speech and Drama. After graduating from the Musical Theatre Course in 1993, he spent 10 years touring the UK in musicals, performing several times on London's prestigious West End. His performances won critical acclaim from UK reviewers.

Whilst visiting New Zealand in 2000, Cortese auditioned for the popular soap opera Shortland Street for the role of Geoff Greenlaw. He did not receive the part and returned to England to star in the West End. He scored a major part in a production but was contacted by Shortland Street producers who announced their intention to write a character specifically for him who was to play a major part in the serial. He was nominated in the prestigious Monte-Carlo Television Festival for "Best Actor" for his role. Cortese also landed the role of Loki in another of Griffin's creations, The Almighty Johnsons, a role he maintained for the show's three season run.

Personal life In January 2006, Cortese and his Dancing with the Stars partner Nerida Lister announced they were dating, then in 2006, New Idea magazine announced that they were expecting their first baby. In April 2007, Kees Armas Cortese was born by water birth at North Shore Hospital. The first exclusive photos of Kees were shown in the New Zealand magazine New Idea a month after his birth. Shane and Nerida became engaged on 26 February 2008 and later married in early 2009. In 2019, Shane and Nerida Cortese split after 10 years of marriage.

A very keen cricketer, he was educated at Tauranga Boys' College and was in the 1st XI from 1981 to 1985.

Cortese remains close friends with his Shortland Street screen brother Michael Galvin.

Filmography Film

Television