Mauricio Merino, Jr.

Mauricio Merino Jr. (born on 3 August 1991) is a Salvadoran-Australian professional actor and model best known for his role as Simon Freedman on the soap opera Neighbours, Daniel Watts in the Australian supernatural thriller, Redback (film),and also for his re-curring role as Freddy on FOX's 12 part series Conspiracy 365.

Mauricio was born Melbourne, Victoria, where he was raised with his two older sisters. Merino speaks fluent Spanish, he is of Spanish and Salvadoran descent and was born to Salvadoran parents.

In early 2000, Mauricio began his career with the Children's Performing Company of Australia where he studied with future Neighbours co stars Matthew Werkmeister and Caitlin Stasey.

Merino has been acting professionally since 2007. Merino began as an extra on the TV show Neighbours, but then later on gained featured roles on As the Bell Rings and as school bully Jake, in Jonathan M. Schiff's The Elephant Princess. Merino also had a lead role in a VEA educational film.In 2008 Merino also appeared in his first feature film My Year Without Sex as the role of Tyson, which premiered in 2009. In late 2008 Merino scored a recurring role in Steven Spielberg's and Tom Hanks' mini series The Pacific. However, Neighbours remains as his first major debut on television as Simon Freedman.

In early 2010, Merino was cast as Daniel Watts in the Australian supernatural thriller feature film, Redback (film) being shot in the Australian outbacks of Western Australia .In 2011, Merino was cast in the children's telemovie Dig Deep Creek playing the troubled Ivan Holtz and was then followed by a multi episode guest role in the multimillion-dollar TV series Conspiracy 365 in the role of Freddy.

Merino, won the role of 15-year-old Simon after auditioning for a nationwide competition, Dolly's Search for Neighbours Next Big Stars, beating over 10,000 young hopefuls.Merino won the competition alongside Chelsea Jones form Perth two be cast in the popular long time running soap.It is the second time Neighbours hosts this competition, after the success of Sam Clark and Adelaide Kane previous winners.Merino signed a three-month contract on the show, then later was extended for another several months.Mauricio played a character 2 years younger than his real age.

Before winning his role on Neighbours, Mauricio was studying his Victorian Certificate of Education and left school and finished his year 12 studies on set whilst filming.

In Novembers 2008 issue of Dolly Magazine, Merino was featured on the front cover which Chelsea Jones which also contained a two-page spread on both actors, and later was featured in various articles in TV Week.Merino has been said to be, one to keep an eye on, a rising star in an issue of TV Week in 2009.

In February's 2009 Dolly Magazine Mauricio was voted as one of the 42 to-die-for dudes, which ranged from movie stars, pop guys and TV hot rods.Having only been on television for a few months, his role clearly establishes him as one of Australia's newest popular faces.

Mauricio is a black belt in Karate, and also plays basketball and soccer. He is not only an actor, but also a model, singer and dancer who can play the guitar and piano

Merino is close friends with ex co-star, Margot Robbie, who played his on screen older sister, Donna on Neighbours.

• Mauricio Merino Jr. on IMDb
• http://perfectblend.net/features/interview-merino.htm
• The Official Neighbours Website (Australia)
• Mauricio Merino Jr. profile on The Perfect Blend, a Neighbours fansite
• Star Newspaper interview with Mauricio Merino Jr.
• Official Redback site