Maria Teresa Ruta (born 23 April 1960) is an Italian showgirl and television presenter.

Biography

Born in Turin, she is the niece of the homonymous Italian television announcer Maria Teresa Ruta. In 1977, aged seventeen, she won the popular beauty contest and began acting in theatre. In 1981 she debuted on national TV as a showgirl for the

RAI RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana (; commercially styled as Rai since 2000; known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane) is the national public broadcasting company of Italy, owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. RAI operates many ter ...

working in shows such as ''Signorine grandi firme'' with

Carmen Russo ''Carmen'' () is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first performed by the Op ...

. Later she became very famous as a sportscaster and presented the famous show ''La Domenica Sportiva'' alongside Sandro Ciotti from 1986 to 1991. Moreover, from 1989 to 1994 she presented the popular children's song competition ''

Zecchino d'Oro Zecchino d'Oro (; meaning "Golden Sequin") is an annual international children's song competition established in 1959 by Niny Comolli. It is broadcast by Rai 1. The first two contests were held in Milan. In 1961, the contest was taken up by th ...

'' alongside

Cino Tortorella Felice "Cino" Tortorella (27 June 1927 – 23 March 2017), was an Italian television presenter, best known for creating and conducting the Zecchino d'Oro festival of children's songs. Zecchino d'Oro and Topo Gigio Cino (hypocorism of ''Felice' ...

. In 1992, 1993 and 1997 she was the Italian presenter for ''

Jeux sans frontières ''Jeux sans frontières'' (; "Games Without Borders" in French) is a Europe-wide television game show, based on the French programme ''Intervilles'' which was first broadcast in 1962. In was broadcast from 1965 to 1999 under the auspices of the ...

''. From 1994 to 1996 she presented the most popular Italian morning show, ''

Unomattina ''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 ...

'', and the game show ''Sala Giochi''. In 2000, together with

Antonella Clerici Antonella Clerici (; born in Legnano on 6 December 1963) is an Italian television host and journalist. Biography She debuted in 1985 in Telereporter as a TV announcer. In 1987, she switched to Rai 2 where she presented ''Semaforo giallo'', ''Oggi ...

and Gianfranco Funari, she led the

Mediaset Mediaset Italia S.p.A., also known as Mediaset, is an Italian-based mass media company which is the largest commercial broadcaster in the country. The company is controlled by the holding company MFE - MediaForEurope. Founded in 1987 by former ...

talk show ''A tu per tu'' but the broadcast had low ratings and it closed after only one season. From the following September she replaced

Iva Zanicchi Iva or IVA may refer to: Organizations * Independent Voters Association, a North Dakota U.S. political organization * Informationsvidenskabelige Akademi, a Danish university * Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, (Swedish: ''Kungliga Ing ...

as presenter of the game show '' OK, Il Prezzo è Giusto!'', the Italian version of ''

The Price Is Right ''The Price Is Right'' is a television game show franchise created by Bob Stewart, originally produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman; currently it is produced and owned by Fremantle. The franchise centers on television game shows, but also inc ...

''. In 2004 she participated as a contestant in the first edition of the famous reality show '' L'Isola dei Famosi'', finishing in sixth place. In September 2018 she took part, with Patrizia Rossetti, in the seventh season of ''

Pechino Express ''Pechino Express'' is the Italian TV version of the reality show ''Peking Express'' created by Ludo Poppe. It has been broadcast on Rai 2 since 2012 and on Sky Uno since 2022. Seasons Winning couple, runner up and third placed

{{A ...

'', the Italian version (aired on

Rai 2 Rai 2 is an Italian free-to-air television channel owned and operated by state-owned public broadcaster RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana. It is the company's second television channel, and is known for broadcasting ''TG2'' news bulletins, talk ...

and hosted by

Costantino della Gherardesca Costantino della Gherardesca Verecondi Scortecci (born 29 January 1977, in Rome), or simply Costantino della Gherardesca, is an Italian actor, journalist, radio presenter, television personality and presenter. Gherardesca is part of a notable aris ...

) of the international reality show ''

Peking Express ''Peking Express'' is a Dutch–Flemish reality game show that follows a series of couples as they hitchhike to or from Beijing (only in the first three seasons; seasons four and five are set in South America). The series has already gone throug ...

'', and in the end the couple won the competition. In September 2020 she participated as a contestant in her third reality show, ''

Grande Fratello VIP ''Grande Fratello VIP'' is the celebrity version of ''Grande Fratello'', the Italian version of the reality television franchise '' Big Brother''.https://mediasetitalia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Mediaset-2021-New-Season-Highlights-Rev_Sep-8_. ...

'', the Italian version of ''

Celebrity Big Brother ''Big Brother VIP'', is an adaptation of the '' Big Brother'' reality television series. It is the celebrity version of its parent franchise ''Big Brother'', the celebrity version airs in several countries, however, the housemates or houseguest ...

''. She was evicted on 12 February 2021 after spending 148 days in the house. In 1987 she married the journalist Amedeo Goria, with whom she had two children: Guendalina "Guenda" Goria and Gianamedeo Goria. The couple separated in 1999 and divorced in 2004. Since 2006 Maria Teresa Ruta has been romantically linked to the physiotherapist Roberto Zappulla, whom she married in 2015. She considers hersef Roman Catholic.

Television

*''Buonasera con Aldo e Carlo Giuffrè'' ( Rete 2, 1981) *''Signorine grandi firme'' ( Rete 3, 1981) *''Musicomio'' (Rete 3, 1981–1982) *''Gransimpatico'' (Rai 2, 1983) *''Chewing gum show'' (Rai 2, 1983) *''Fresco fresco'' (

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 company's flagship television channel, and is known for broadcasting mainstream and general ...

, 1983) *''Caccia al 13'' (

Rete 4 Rete 4 (in English Network 4) is an Italian free-to-air television channel operated by Mediaset Italia and owned by MFE - MediaForEurope. Presently the director is Sebastiano Lombardi. Programs TV Programmes (currently) Rete 4's strength ...

, 1983–1984) *''Sereno Variabile'' (Rai 2, 1984–1985) *''Calcissimo'' (Rai 2, 1985) *''Ventimiglia, canzoni tra i fiori'' (Rai 1, 1985) *''

Castrocaro Music Festival The Castrocaro Music Festival, also known as Concorso per Voci Nuove, is an Italian musical contest which takes place every year in the town of Castrocaro Terme e Terra del Sole, near Forlì, from 1957. The competition is exclusively reserved for ne ...

'' (Rai 1, 1985) *''Italia mia'' (Rai 1, 1986) *''Una canzone per Miss Mondo'' (Rai 1, 1986) *''Italia sera'' (Rai 1, 1986–1987) *''La Domenica Sportiva'' (Rai 1, 1986–1991) *''Le stelle dell'Orsa'' (Rai 1, 1987) *''Carnevale di Viareggio'' (Rai 1, 1987) *''A volo d'uccello'' (Rai 2, 1988) *''Porto Matto(Rai 1, 1988) *'' La festa della mamma'' (Rai 1, 1989) *''

'' (Rai 1, 1989–1994) *''Hanna e Barbera – 50 anni di carriera'' (Rai 1, 1989) *''Mare Nostrum – Insieme per l'ambiente'' (Rai 1, 1989) *''La modella per l'arte'' (Rai 1, 1990) *''San Valentino – Un anno d'amore'' (Rai 1, 1990) *''Top '90'' (Rai 1, 1990) *'' Speciale Sabato dello Zecchino – Libri, televisione e fantasia'' (Rai 1, 1990) *''Italia...primo amore'' (Rai 1, 1990) *''Un'estate italiana'' (Rai 1, 1990) *''Vota la voce'' (

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 ...

, 1990) *''

Telethon A telethon (a portmanteau of "television" and "marathon") is a televised fundraising event that lasts many hours or even days, the purpose of which is to raise money for a charitable, political or other purportedly worthy cause. Most telethons f ...

'' (Rai 1, 1990–1994) *''Dai lieti calici'' (Rai 1, 1990) *''4ª rassegna cinematografica Sangineto'' (Rai 1, 1991) *''Ciao Italia'' (Rai 1, 1991) *''Il Processo del Lunedì'' (Rai 3, 1991–1992) *'' Questa pazza pazza neve'' (Rai 1, 1991–1992) *''

Miss Italia Miss Italia is a beauty pageant awarding prizes every year to young, female contestants from Italy. Since the first edition of the contest in 1939 many of the contestants have gone on to notable careers in television and film. History The foreru ...

'' (Rai 1, 1991) – Reporter *''Scommettiamo che...?'' (Rai 1, 1992) *'' Giochi senza frontiere'' (Rai 1, 1992–1993, 1997) *''La grande corsa'' (Rai 1, 1992) *''Scarpetta d'oro'' (Rai 2, 1992) *''La notte delle streghe'' (Rai 1, 1993) *''Trofeo del mare – 3º Primatist Trophy'' (Rai 2, 1993) *''Uno per tutti'' (Rai 1, 1993–1994) *''DisneyTime'' (Rai 1, 1993–1994) *''DisneyTime – Natale con Paperino'' (Rai 1, 1993) *''Incontri del Mediterraneo'' (Cinquestelle, 1994) *''2º Premio giornalistico Pietro Aretino'' (Rai 1, 1994) *''Canzoni di Primavera – Speciale La Banda dello Zecchino'' (Rai 1, 1994) *''Tengo famiglia'' (

Odeon 24 ''Odeon 24'' was an Italian channel owned by Gold TV, a television network. Originally airing movies, news and weather bulletins, political debates and variety shows, the channel was bought by Primarete and became almost dedicated to infomercials, ...

, 1994) *''

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 ...

'' (Rai 1, 1994, 1995) *''VerdeMattina'' (Rai 1, 1994) *''Venerdibattito'' (Rai 1, 1994) *''I Remigini – Speciale La Banda dello Zecchino'' (Rai 1, 1994) *''Un bambino, una vita'' ( TMC, 1994) *''Sala giochi'' (Rai 1, 1995) *''Pronto? Sala giochi'' (Rai 1, 1995–1996) *''

'' (Rai 1, 1996) *'' Di che segno siamo? – Speciale Unomattina'' (Rai 1, 1996) *''Giostra di Capodanno'' (Rai International, 1996) *''Festival di Primavera'' (Rai 1, 1997) *''Note di Natale'' (TMC, 1997) *''Vivere bene'' (Canale 5, 1997–1998) *''Vivere bene – Salute'' (Canale 5, 1998–1999) *''Vivere bene Estate'' (Canale 5, 1998) *''Vivere bene – Speciale Medicina'' (Canale 5, 1998–1999) *''Vivere bene Magazine'' (Canale 5, 1998–1999) *''Vivere bene con noi'' (Canale 5, 1999) *''A tu per tu'' (Canale 5, 2000) *'' OK, Il Prezzo è Giusto!'' (Rete 4, 2000–2001) *''Bravo bravissimo club'' (Rete 4, 2001–2002) *''Goal Show'' (Tele A, 2002) *'' Quelli che... il Calcio'' (Rai 2, 2002–2003) – Reporter *''TG Salute'' (

, 2003) *'' Unomattina Estate Sabato e domenica'' (Rai 1, 2003) *'' L'Isola dei Famosi'' (Rai 2, 2003) – Contestant *''Estate sul 2'' (Rai 2, 2004) *''Il Circo per l'Estate'' (Rete 4, 2005) *'' Pomeriggio Cinque'' (Canale 5, from 2008) – Columnist *''Domenica Win'' (Betting Channel, 2008–2009) *''Talk show e rubriche'' (Vero Capri, 2012–2013) – Columnist *''Missione relitti'' (Acqua, 2014–2018) *''

{{A ...

'' (Rai 2, 2018) – Contestant, winner *''Detto fatto'' (Rai 2, from 2019) – Columnist *''Chef per Passione'' (TeleNord, 2019–2020) *'' Grande Fratello VIP 5'' (Canale 5, 2020–2021) – Contestant

Filmography

*''

Saturday, Sunday and Friday ''Saturday, Sunday and Friday'', originally titled ''Sabato, domenica e venerdì'', is a 1979 Italian anthology comedy film directed by Castellano & Pipolo, Pasquale Festa Campanile and Sergio Martino. Plot The film is divided into three episod ...

'', directed by

Sergio Martino Sergio Martino (born 19 July 1938) is an Italian film director and producer, notable for his contributions to the giallo genre. Martino is the brother of the late producer Luciano Martino (who died in 2013). They collaborated frequently in their ...

(1979) *'' La moglie in vacanza... l'amante in città'', directed by

(1980) *''

Sciopèn ''Sciopèn'' (also known as ''Chopin'') is a 1982 Italian comedy film directed by Luciano Odorisio. The film entered the competition at the 39th Venice Film Festival, in which it won the Silver Lion for best first work. Odorisio was awarded best ...

'', directed by

Luciano Odorisio Luciano Orodisio (born Chieti, 7 March 1942) is an Italian actor, screenwriter, and film and television director. Filmography Actor * '' Uccideva a freddo'', directed by Guido Celano (1966) (Italian) * ''Il seme dell'uomo'', directed by Marco ...

(1982) *''Giorno dopo giorno'' – TV soap opera, (1982) *''Il volo di Teo'', directed by

Walter Santesso Walter Santesso (27 February 1931 in Padua, Italy – 20 January 2008) was an Italian film actor and director. His character name "Paparazzo" in Federico Fellini's 1960 film ''La Dolce Vita''Un inviato molto speciale'', directed by

Vittorio De Sisti Vittorio De Sisti (23 November 1940 – 22 April 2006) was a Libyan-born Italian director and screenwriter. Born in Darna, Libya, De Sisti entered the cinema industry in 1962 as a sound engineer. In 1966, after graduating from the Centro S ...

– TV series, episode 1x04 (1991) *''

Un posto al sole ''Un posto al sole'' (English: ''A Place in the Sun'') is an Italian soap opera transmitted by Rai 3 since 1996. It is set in a fictional apartment building called Palazzo Palladini, located in front of the sea in the Naples neighborhood of Posill ...

'' – TV soap opera, (2002)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ruta, Maria Teresa 1960 births 20th-century Italian actresses 21st-century Italian actresses Italian showgirls Italian sports journalists Italian women journalists Italian stage actresses Italian television presenters Italian women television presenters Participants in Italian reality television series Living people Italian Roman Catholics