Sonia Grey, known as the stage name of Sonia Colone, and Maria Michela Mari is an Italian

actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a Character (arts), character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek ...

and

television presenter A television presenter (or television host, some become a "television personality") is a person who introduces, hosts television show, television programs, often serving as a mediator for the program and the audience. Nowadays, it is common for ...

. She began her acting career in 1988 and has been performing since. Sonia Grey promotes a vegan and healthy lifestyle on her website.

Biography

Early life

She was born in

Rho, Lombardy Rho (; ; ) is a town and ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Milan in the Italian region of Lombardy, located about northwest of Milan. The language spoken in Rho is Italian. Geography Rho is lapped by the river Olona and cro ...

on 30 August 1968. Grey received a degree in Communications Sciences, Information, and Marketing as well as a

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

in neuro-linguistic programming.

Acting career

She began her acting career in 1988 when she performed in the show ''Dibattito!'' with

Gianni Ippoliti Gianni Ippoliti (born 22 February 1950) is an Italian television presenter, television writer, actor and writer. Life and career Born in Rome, a former football referee and a graduate in sociology,Giorgio Dell’Arti, Massimo Parrini. "Ippoli ...

on Italia 1. She would go on to a larger role in 1990 when Antonio Ricci chose her for the role of the first sexy nurse on ''

Striscia la Notizia ''Striscia la notizia'' () is an Italian satirical television program on the Mediaset-controlled Canale 5. Founded in 1988, it is meant to be a parody of the daily news, which airs right before the program, but ''Striscia'' also satirizes gover ...

'', a role subsequently filled by Angela Cavagna. After her experience in the satirical news program on

Canale 5 Canale 5 () is an Italian free-to-air television channel of Mediaset, owned by MFE - MediaForEurope. It was the first private television network to have a national coverage in Italy in 1980. On 4 December 2012, Mediaset launched Canale 5 HD, a s ...

, she participated in various comedy shows on the network

Fininvest Finanziaria d'investimento Fininvest S.p.A., known as Fininvest S.p.A., is an Italian holding company controlled by the Berlusconi family and managed by Silvio Berlusconi's eldest daughter Marina Berlusconi. Structure The Fininvest group is co ...

, including ''Sabato al circo,'' led by

Gigi e Andrea Gigi Sammarchi (Bologna, 2 November 1949) and Andrea Roncato (San Lazzaro di Savena, 7 March 1947) are an Italian former comedy duo who worked on stage, films and television as Gigi e Andrea. History The couple started performing together in s ...

, and ''Yogurt - Fermenti attivi'', which would later be replicated on Happy Channel. She also participated in a number of programs as a showgirl, including ''Il gioco dei 9'', ''Il TG delle vacanze'', ''Sabato al circo'', ''Televiggiù'' and ''Didomenica''. Colone played a small role in the film '' Abbronzatissimi'' in 1991. In 1993, she appeared alongside

Gino Bramieri Gino Bramieri (; 21 June 1928 – 18 June 1996) was an Italian comedian and actor. He was especially known as a television comedian, but also performed in theatres, on radio, and in about thirty movies. He was nicknamed "Il Re della barzelletta ...

in the first two seasons of the sitcom ''

Nonno Felice ''Nonno Felice'' is an Italian sitcom. It has a spin-off, ''Norma e Felice''. Cast *Gino Bramieri: Nonno Felice / Miss Felicita *Paola Onofri: Ginevra *Franco Oppini: Franco Malinverni *Federico Rizzo: Federico Malinverni *Eva Prantera: Eva Ma ...

'', playing the cashier at the bar frequented by her grandfather. In December 1995, she declared she wanted to pursue a career as a drama actress, and therefore decided to change her image and take the stage name of Maria Michela Mari, although she remained known through her first pseudonym, Sonia Grey. In 1997, she starred in ''Una donna in Fuga'', with Gina Lollobrigida. In 1998, she starred as the main character alongside

Gabriel Garko Dario Oliviero (born 12 July 1972), better known by his stage name Gabriel Garko, is an Italian actor and former fashion model. Actor in both film and television, he has appeared mainly on the small screen. He started his career at the end of 19 ...

in the drama ''Angelo Nero'', which aired on

and Telecinco with the title ''El Angelo Nigro'', in the early evening. She later starred in the TV movie ''Villa Ada'' with

Pier Francesco Pingitore Pier Francesco Pingitore (born 27 September 1934) is an Italian director, screenwriter, playwright and author. Biography Born in Catanzaro, Pingitore started his career as a journalist,Giorgio Dell’Arti, Massimo Parrini. ''Catalogo dei viven ...

, and later became a co-star in the first two seasons of ''

Il bello delle donne ''Il bello delle donne'' (Beauty of Women) is an Italian comedy-drama television series. The story is about the lives of different Italian women. Main cast *Stefania Sandrelli: Anna Borsi * Nancy Brilli: Vicky Melzi (1ª e 3ª Seasons) *Giulian ...

'' as a flower girl named Palma.

Return to RAI programs on television

Sonia returned to the Italian television under the pseudonym Sonia Grey in June 2002 during the

2002 FIFA World Cup The 2002 FIFA World Cup, also branded as Korea Japan 2002, was the 17th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial Association football, football world championship for List of men's national association football teams, men's national teams organized by ...

, after giving birth. The following year, she was chosen by Michele Guardì to join the cast of ''Mezzogiorno in famiglia''. She later published a book, ''Cucina in Famiglia''. The following summer she rejoined the program ''Unomattina Estate'', this time as a presenter, alongside Franco Di Mare, where she remained for four seasons. On the same channel, Rai 1, she appeared in ''In forma con Sonia'', and from 2005 she also presented ''Sabato & Domenica... la tv che fa bene alla salute'', with Franco Di Mare and Dr. Fabrizio Duranti. In 2009-2010, the program was renamed ''Unomattina Weekend''. During the 2010–2011 season, she became the presenter of ''

Domenica in ''Domenica in'' is an Italian Sunday long-running television show broadcast by Rai 1 Rai 1 () is an Italian free-to-air television channel owned and operated by state-owned public broadcaster RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana. It is the com ...

'' on Rai 1 alongside

Lorella Cuccarini Lorella Cuccarini Persili (born August 10, 1965) is an Italian showgirl, television personality, dancer, singer, and actress. Life and career Born in Rome, at nine years old Cuccarini started to attend the dance school of (choreographer and hu ...

and

Massimo Giletti Massimo Giletti (born 18 March 1962) is an Italian television presenter and journalist. Biography He was born in a wealthy family from Piedmont. His father Emilio Giletti was a racing driver and a industrialist, owner of a textile factory in th ...

. In the show, Sonia Grey hosted the segment in ''Domenica in... Amori''. In 2011, she was also one of the judges in the Rai 1 talent show ''Ciak... si canta!'' and appeared on the prime time shows ''Una Voce per Padre Pio'' and ''Una notte per Caruso'', both broadcast on Rai 1. Since 2012, she has been a presenter on the Web TV station ''Nonsolobenessere.tv'' in collaboration with medical and psychological well-being experts.

Personal life

Her interest in science, health and medicine exists in both her professional and private life. On her website, she also explains her methods for keeping fit, partially through a healthy vegan diet. She regularly practices neuro-linguistic programming, for which she also holds a Master's degree.

Filmography

Credits from Sonia Grey IMDb page. ''Actress'' *''Striscia la Notizia'' (TV Series) (1988) *''Classe di ferro'' (1991) *''Abbronzatissimi (Very Tanned)'' (1991) *''Dido... menica'' (TV Series) (1992) *''Bellezze al bagno'' (TV Series) (1992) *''Il gioco dei 9'' (TV Series) (1992) *''Nonno Felice (Happy Grandpa)'' (1993) *''Una donna in fuga'' (TV Movie) (1996) *''Angelo Nero (Black Angel)'' (TV Movie) (1998) *''Villa Ada'' (TV Movie) (1999) *''Il bello delle donne (The Beauty of Women)) TV Series (2001–2003) *''Una voce per Padre Pio - 12a edizione'' (TV Special) (2011)

Works

as Sonia Grey *''Dibattito! (Debate!)'' (Italy 1, 1988) *''Televiggiù'' (Italy 1, 1989) *''

Striscia la notizia ''Striscia la notizia'' () is an Italian satirical television program on the Mediaset-controlled Canale 5. Founded in 1988, it is meant to be a parody of the daily news, which airs right before the program, but ''Striscia'' also satirizes gover ...

'' ''(Strip the news)'' (Channel 5, 1990-1991) *''Il TG delle vacanze (The holiday news)'' (Channel 5, 1991) *''Sabato al circo (Saturday at the circus)'' (Channel 5, 1992) *''Il gioco dei giochi (The game of games)'' (Italy 1, 1992) *''Yogurt - Fermenti attivi (Yogurt - Active ferments)'' (Italy 1, 1994) *'' Nonno Felice 2 (Happy Grandpa 2)'' (1994) *''Una donna in fuga (A woman on the run)''(1996) *''Villa Ada'' (1999) *''Cucina in famiglia (Family cooking)'' with Luigi Sforzellini (2002) * '' Telethon'' (Rai 1, 2002-2010) *''

Unomattina Estate ''Unomattina'' (also spelled ''Uno Mattina'') is a long-running Italian morning television show, broadcast by Rai 1 since 22 December 1986. History The first-morning program of the Italian national public television, was created to counterprogr ...

(One morning Summer)'' (Rai 1, 2002-2006) *''Mezzogiorno in famiglia (Midday with the family)'' (Rai 2, 2002-2003) *''In forma con Sonia (Fit with Sonia)'' (Rai 1, 2005) *''Premio Massimo Troisi (Massimo Troisi Award)'' (Rai 1, 2005) *''Sabato & domenica (Saturday Sunday)'' (Rai 1, 2005-2009) *''Il circolo virtuoso del benessere (The virtuous circle of well-being)'' with Dr. Fabrizio Duranti (2006) *''Concerto per i ragazzi di strada (Concert for street children)'' (Rai 1, 2006) *''Sabato, Domenica &...ESTATE (Saturday, Sunday & ... SUMMER)'' (Rai 1, 2006) *2007 - ''Le 100 regole del benessere (The 100 rules of wellbeing)'' with Dr. Fabrizio Duranti *''La notte dei leoni (The night of the lions)'' (Rai 1, 2007) *'' Unomattina Weekend (One Morning Weekend)'' (Rai 1, 2009-2010) *'' Domenica in... Amori (Sunday in ... Love)'' (Rai 1, 2010-2011) *''Ciak... si canta! (Ciak ... let's sing!)'' (Rai 1, 2011) ''Giurata (Sworn)'' *''Una notte per Caruso (One night for Caruso)'' (Rai 1, 2011) *''Una voce per Padre Pio (A voice for Padre Pio)'' (Rai 1, 2011)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Grey, Sonia Italian television presenters Italian television actresses 1968 births People from Rho, Lombardy Actresses from Lombardy Italian showgirls Italian film actresses Living people Italian women television presenters