Maria Mercedes' recent engagements have included performing the role of Norma Desmond in the musical, Sunset Boulevard, and the role of Tasia in Ana Kokkinos' feature film Head On, which had its world premiere at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival and received two AFI Awards. For the role of Norma Desmond, Maria was nominated for a Green Room Award. In 1996 Maria performed in the Sydney Opera House season of The World Goes 'Round, a collection of musical theatre songs written by John Kander and Fred Ebb and also performed the role of Saphra in the television movie, Whipping Boy. Maria received nominations for a Green Room Award and a Theatre Critics Circle Award for her performance as Luisa Contini in Nine, which was produced and directed by John Diedrich. Other roles include Sophie Lenz in Shadow and Splendour, Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show, Grizabella in Cats, Svetlana in Chess and Simone in Bedfull of Foreigners. The triple bill of Liza, Barbra and Mary Martin in Forbidden Broadway won her a Mo Award as Best Supporting Female Musical Theatre Performer. Her many television appearences include Thunderstone, Bluey, Cop Shop, Division 4, Homicide, Special Squad, English at Work, the role of Amina in Inside Running and Anastasia in an episode of Patrol Boat. She appeared in Prisoner in the roles of Yemil Bakata and Irene Zervos, in E Street in the role of Shirley Maclean and in Cody as the Spanish Teacher Raquel. In 1998 Maria wrote her own material for her first CD recording to be released during 1999. Maria was recently seen in 'The Production Company's' Gypsy as Mazeppa.