Aaron Fa'aoso is more than just TV's tough guy

AARON Fa’aoso is one of Australia’s underrated talents as far as I’m concerned.

Aaron Fa’aoso stars in the TV series Black Comedy and League Nation Live.

AARON Fa'aoso is one of Australia's underrated talents as far as I'm concerned.

You only have to look at the actor's two projects on our screens in the next week to see his incredible range and diversity.

Not every man can go from playing a flamboyantly gay indigenous man in the ABC's Black Comedy to talking footy on NITV's new show League Nation Live.

The Cairns native, who is of Torres Strait Islander, Samoan and Tongan descent, is probably best known for his roles on the dramas East West 101 and The Straits.

As one of the core cast members of Black Comedy, airing Wednesdays on ABC1, he plays everything from a detective to an indigenous mobster to a cultural enforcer as part of the elite Black Force team.

My favourite, though, is his role as one half of the outrageously camp and highly competitive Tiddas, who got engaged in this week's episode.

"The Tiddas have definitely resonated back home in the communities," he said.

"I remember when we went to screen (for season one) I was doing a project up in Cape York, my home community, and there were a lot of people blown away I was playing that character, first and foremost, and what was coming out of our mouths.

"What's been great is I've found this new love of doing comedy, which is a big surprise for everybody as I've really only played tough guys."

Joining the line-up for League Nation Live is a natural fit for the father-of-two, who played rugby and was working as a health worker in Cape York before he got his break in acting on the mini-series RAN (Remote Area Nurse).

I expect he'll bring a great mix of humour and serious Rugby League fandom to the rugby panel show, which debuts on Tuesday and is filmed in Brisbane.

Recently retired Brisbane Broncos player Justin Hodges hosts the 90-minute show, which also features panellists Nathan Appo, Hannah Hollis and Jodan Perry.