Shane Cortese

Wellington-born Shane Cortese spent a decade in the United Kingdom — much of it starring in stage musicals — before returning to Aotearoa, to play psycho Dominic Thompson in Shortland Street. Two years later he showed his dance prowess on Dancing with the Stars, then was tapped to play Loretta’s boyfriend on Outrageous Fortune. Next came three seasons as the lovelorn Mac, on quiz show drama Nothing Trivial. The talented all-rounder continues to sing (with his 8-Track Band) and act (The Brokenwood Mysteries). In 2017 he began working in Auckland real estate, to complement his acting work.  

We’re a lot more clever now in the way we write and deliver, and that’s probably got to do with writers working with actors a second and third time round. We’re in each other’s head space. Shane Cortese in 2010, on developments in Kiwi television comedy