Danny Raco

Danny Raco was born on the day before Christmas, December 24th 1979, in Rome, Italy. He's got a four years younger brother. His dad is Italian, but his mum is Australian and that's why the family moved to Australia in 1990, when Danny was 11 years old. His mother, having homesickness after living in Italy for eighteen years, Danny and his brother went there first, his father came one year later. Danny found the move very disappointing. He used to live in Toscane, between Roma and Fiorenza, in a mediaeval village with at most 500 inhabitants. He found it really beautiful out there. Danny's mum is an interpreter and translator, his dad is a radio presenter.

Danny reckons he knows a lot about women and is a Latin Lover. He's got a girlfriend and is happy about that.

Danny thinks it's pretty tragic Heartbreak High has stopped, cos he found it great to act in the series. He attended the Australian Theatre for Young People for two years, starting in 1992, until he signed up for an acting course at PACT Youth Theatre to develop his stage roles ad experience further.

One day he signed up with an agent who got him some walk-on parts now and then, among which in Heartbreak High. He loved it because he could see the actors he admired, at work, close up. A few years later he got a leading role in Heartbreak High, which was his first big role. He completed his HSC in 1997, and at the time he had to audition he had began studying at the University of New South Wales just a month ago. But he wasn't really ready for serious studying yet, he never was a study freak at school anyway.

His character Marco Vialli and Danny himself have quite some things in common, cos the first day on set Danny told the writers all about himself and they've filled up Marc's character on the basis of that information. Like Marc, Danny is a soccer fanatic. He could have become real good at it if he wasn't lazy. When the ball doesn't land just in front of his feet, Danny doesn't feel needed to run after it!

After Heartbreak High Danny has continued studying part-time, so he can do some acting too. His majors are movie science and Spanish.

One of the reasons why Danny has resumed studying is that he doesn't think he's suitable to get a real career in acting. He isn't quite sure about his acting performances and critisises himself. He really loves acting but wonders if he's good enough!

Danny has also starred in SBS children's program Babble On, and in the beginning of 1999 he has done a commercial for Sprite. He has also auditioned for Home & Away, but he didn't get a role although they found him good. Danny can't play just every role because of his Italian appearance, except when people are looking for an Italian type. But Danny doesn't want to play mafiatypes only!