# Jake Canuso

Jake Canuso is a Swiss-British actor, best known for his role in the ITV comedy series Benidorm, in which he played the Solana barman Mateo Castellanos from 2007 until 2018. Canuso was a professional dancer for eighteen years, working with artists Rozalla, Spice Girls, Annie Lennox and Elton John.

## Early life

Canuso was born near Zurich, Switzerland, to immigrants from southern Italy. He moved to the UK as a young boy

## Career

Previously a dancer, Canuso appeared dressed as a ballet dancer in the music video for "No More I Love You's" by Annie Lennox. He also appeared in the video of Kakko's 1990 song "We Should Be Dancing", JX's "Son of a Gun", Alex Party's "Don't Give Me Your Life", Carter USM's "Let's Get Tattoos", 2 unlimited's "Here I Go", and Emma Bunton's "Crickets Sing for Anamaria". Canuso also toured as a dancer for acts including the Spice Girls, Elton John and Annie Lennox. He also appeared as a dancer on Top of the Pops.
Between 2007-2018, Canuso featured in the ITV comedy series Benidorm as flirtatious barman Mateo Castellanos and is the sitcom's longest-serving actor, appearing in all 74 episodes. Canuso was chosen along with several other members of the cast to star in Benidorm Live, a touring stage adaptation of the show.
In January 2013, Canuso participated in ITV diving show Splash!, hosted by Tom Daley.
Canuso has performed in numerous pantomimes. In 2022, he appeared as Abanazar in Aladdin, which was staged at the Rhyl Pavilion Theatre.

## Personal life

Canuso survived the Indian Ocean tsunami on 26 December 2004, whilst on holiday in Ko Phra Thong, Thailand. He climbed a tree after seeing the first waves, and was trapped underwater after the tree snapped. He developed aquaphobia and did not swim for several years.

## Credits
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2004 | School for Seduction | Giovanni | |
| 2004 | Piccadilly Jim | Marcel | |
| 2005 | Kinky Boots | Waiter | |
| 2005 | Russian Dolls | Miguel | |
| 2006 | In A Day | Italian Waiter | |
| 2006 | Flyboys | French Infantryman | |
| 2006 | Flirting with Flamenco | Pablo | |
| 2007 | Tick Tock Lullaby | Laurence | |
| 2008 | Journal of a Contract Killer | Alessandro | |
| 2009 | City Rats | Marco Harper | |
| 2009 | Nine | Reporter 4 | |
| 2011 | Naachle London | Alan | |
| 2012 | The Dark Knight Rises | Waiter in Florence café | |
| 2019 | Fork | Robert Medlow | |
| 2019 | Wisteria Cottage | Carl | Short film |
| 2024 | Fyre Rises | Alejandro | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2004 | Hustle | Barman | Series 1 episode 5: A Touch of Class |
| 2004 | Keen Eddie | Michael Hoffman | Series 1 episode 13: Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité |
| 2005 | Heartbeat | Giovanni Viora | Series 14 episode 15: Icon |
| 2005 | Casualty | Matt Franks | Series 19 episode 40: Swallowers |
| 2006 | Doctors | Andy Clark | Series 7 episode 155: Ignorance is Bliss |
| 2007 | Suburban Shootout | Yuri | |
| 2007-2018 | Benidorm | Mateo Castellano | 74 episodes |
| 2009 | Shameless | Damien di Soto | Series 6 episode 4: Loving Wife |
| 2012 | The Hour | Peter Grey | Series 2 episode 3: Vice |
| 2013 | The Bible | Daniel | 9 episodes |
| 2013 | Bad Education | Javier | Series 2 episode 7 |
| 2014 | Cardinal Burns | Priest | Series 2 episode 5: The Priest |
| 2017 | Snatch | Petru | 1 episode |
| 2017 | Drunk History | Various characters | 5 episodes; series 3 |
| 2018 | The Royals | Javier | 1 episode |
| 2019 | Scarborough | Tony Peroni | 6 episodes |
| 2019 | MyBad! | Stewie | Television film |
| 2024 | Grace (TV series) | Pierre | Series 4, episode 4 |

### Music videos

| Year | Artist | Title |
| 1991 | Kylie Minogue | Give Me Just A Little More Time |
| 1994 | Carter USM | Let's Get Tattoos |
| 1994 | JX | Son of a Gun |
| 1995 | 2 Unlimited | Here I Go |
| 1995 | Alex Party | Don't Give Me Your Life |
| 1995 | Annie Lennox | No More I Love You's |
| 1997 | Spice Girls | Too Much |
| 2004 | Emma Bunton | Crickets Sing for Anamaria |

### Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Location |
| 2014–2015 | Aladdin | TBC | The Forum, Billingham |
| 2015–2016 | Jack & the Beanstalk | Jack | Alhambra Theatre, Bradford |
| 2017–2018 | Mother Goose | TBC | Sheffield Lyceum, Sheffield |
| 2018–2019 | Benidorm Live | Mateo Castellanos | UK tour with 250 shows |
| 2019–2020 | Aladdin | The Genie | New Theatre, Hull |
| 2022 | Aladdin | Abanazar | Rhyl Pavilion Theatre |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2004 | Driver 3 | Didier Dubois, additional voices | |
| 2012 | Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney | Additional voices | |