Cosentino (illusionist)
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Paul Cosentino (born on November 2, 1982), known simply as Cosentino, is a famous Australian illusionist and escapologist. He is known for his amazing magic tricks, daring escapes, and captivating stage performances. Cosentino has amazed audiences around the world with his unique blend of traditional magic and modern showmanship.
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Cosentino: The Australian Illusionist
Cosentino is a master of illusion, making things appear and disappear. He also performs incredible escapes from dangerous situations. He has become one of Australia's most recognized entertainers. His journey from a curious child to a global magic star is truly inspiring.
Early Life and Discovering Magic
Paul Cosentino grew up in Australia. His mother was a school principal, and his father was an engineer. As a young boy, Cosentino discovered a magic book in a library. He was fascinated by the pictures, even though he had some learning difficulties. His mother helped him understand the book's secrets.
When he was 13, Cosentino and his mother accidentally got locked out of their house. To get back inside, Cosentino tried picking the lock. He succeeded! This experience sparked his interest in lock-picking. It was a skill he later used in his amazing magic shows. He attended Wesley College, Melbourne during his high school years.
A Career Full of Magic and Escapes
Cosentino's career has been filled with exciting performances and television appearances. He has pushed the boundaries of magic and escape artistry. He always seeks new ways to thrill his audience.
First Steps in Television
Cosentino made his first television appearance while still in high school. He showcased his talents on the Australian variety show Hey Hey It's Saturday. He even won prize money for his performance. This was a great start to his career.
The Underwater Challenge
On February 17, 2010, Cosentino performed a special tribute to the famous escapologist Harry Houdini. Exactly 100 years earlier, Houdini had jumped off Queen's Bridge in Melbourne. Cosentino honored this by performing his own underwater escape.
He was shackled to a heavy 60 kg concrete block. Then, he was lowered into the main tank at the Melbourne Aquarium. He was surrounded by fish, sharks, and rays! Cosentino had to free himself using only a lock pick. He aimed to escape in 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Even with some tricky padlocks, he managed to escape in 3 minutes and 39 seconds. This showed incredible bravery and skill.
Rising to Fame on Australia's Got Talent
In 2011, Cosentino auditioned for Australia's Got Talent in Melbourne. He impressed the judges with his illusion routine. He moved forward in the competition. For the preliminary finals, he performed another thrilling escape. He was completely submerged in a tank of water, suspended high above the ground. He had to pick 9 locks to escape. He completed this dangerous act in just 1 minute and 45 seconds.
In the semi-final, Cosentino performed a dazzling illusion. He disappeared and reappeared with a military-style dance. For the grand finale, he performed one of his most memorable escapes. He was suspended upside down by his ankles, six meters above the ground. He was inside a giant, jaws-like machine. A single rope held these jaws open, and this rope was set on fire! Cosentino had to escape his straitjacket before the rope burned through. If he failed, the jaws would snap shut around his ankle with over 200 kg of force. He successfully escaped, captivating millions of viewers. Cosentino finished second in the 2011 series of Australia's Got Talent.
Beyond the Magic Stage
Cosentino has continued to entertain audiences in many ways. He performed magic tricks and helped welcome Santa Claus at Carols in the Domain in Sydney. In 2013, he showed off his dancing skills on Dancing With The Stars. He and his partner, Jessica Raffa, won the competition on November 26, 2013.
He also starred in three episodes of "Magic, The Mystery, The Madness." In these shows, he performed illusions, escapes, and street magic on the streets of Melbourne and Sydney. Cosentino also appeared on the Asia's Got Talent result show, where he performed a disappearing act. In 2019, he competed in America's Got Talent: The Champions. He did not make it to the finals, but he still showcased his amazing talent to a global audience. In 2020, Cosentino appeared as a special guest on the sixth season of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Australia.
Author and Actor
In October 2016, Cosentino shared his story in his first book. It was titled Anything is Possible: The Magic, The Mystery, The Life. In this book, he talks about his thoughts and inspirations. He explains how they helped him achieve his dreams in the world of illusion. Cosentino also made his acting debut in 2017. He played himself in the Jackie Chan film Bleeding Steel.
