Sonia Kruger
Encyclopedia
Sonia Melissa Kruger is an Australia
n television presenter. She is best known for co-hosting the popular Australian version of Dancing with the Stars
, hosting 10 Years Younger in 10 Days
and for the role of Tina Sparkle in the hit 1992 film Strictly Ballroom
.
, she attended Beenleigh State High School
, completing Year 12 in 1982. Kruger has also completed an Arts Degree at the University of Technology, Sydney
and taught dance at the National Institute of Dramatic Art
(NIDA) in Sydney.
. Kruger's first television appearance was in 1992 as a reporter for Wonder World on the Nine Network
which ran for three years. She began with the Seven Network
in 1997 on 11AM as entertainment reporter.
In 2004, Kruger appeared on a television dance special titled The Making of Burn the Floor, which was aired on the 'W' Channel on Foxtel
. She then began co-hosting Dancing with the Stars
, which she co-hosted until 2011. She has also hosted 10 Years Younger in 10 Days
in the late 2000s, and is currently the entertainment reporter for Today Tonight
.
Sonia previously hosted the morning program on Sydney's radio station Mix 106.5
program with Dancing with the Stars judges Todd McKenney
and Andy Grace
.
On November 23 2011, it was confirmed that the Nine Network
had signed a contract with Kruger to host a new daytime talk show and host their rebooted version of Big Brother Australia
.
carnival. Channel 7 later issued an apology for her statement.
In 2011, she caused further controversy when she wrote "I think it's nice you get on so well with your dad" on her Twitter
account regarding the difference in age between dancer Brynne Edelsten and her husband Geoffrey Edelsten
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n television presenter. She is best known for co-hosting the popular Australian version of Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars (Australian TV series)
Dancing with the Stars is a Logie Award-winning, Australian light entertainment reality show airing on the Seven Network and filmed live from the HSV-7 studios in Melbourne...
, hosting 10 Years Younger in 10 Days
10 Years Younger in 10 Days
10 Years Younger in 10 Days is a reality make-over show that screens on the Seven Network in Australia. The series is presented by Sonia Kruger and is based on the British series 10 Years Younger....
and for the role of Tina Sparkle in the hit 1992 film Strictly Ballroom
Strictly Ballroom
Strictly Ballroom is a 1992 Australian romantic comedy film directed and co-written by Baz Luhrmann and produced by M&A Productions. The film is the first installment in The Red Curtain Trilogy, Luhrmann's trilogy of theatre-motif-related films; the follow-ups were Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge!...
.
Early life
Born in Toowoomba, QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, she attended Beenleigh State High School
Beenleigh State High School
Beenleigh State High School is a public, co-educational high school located in Beenleigh, Queensland.- Extra Curricula Activities :BSHS offers a number of Extra Curricular activities including Debating, Air Fore Cadets as well as sporting an Agricultural Show Team and Dance Troop.- Academic...
, completing Year 12 in 1982. Kruger has also completed an Arts Degree at the University of Technology, Sydney
University of Technology, Sydney
The University of Technology Sydney is a university in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The university was founded in its current form in 1981, although its origins trace back to the 1870s. UTS is notable for its central location as the only university with its main campuses within the Sydney CBD...
and taught dance at the National Institute of Dramatic Art
National Institute of Dramatic Art
The National Institute of Dramatic Art is an Australian national training institute for students of theatre, film, and television, based in the Sydney suburb of Kensington. It is supported by the federal Office for the Arts, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. NIDA is located adjacent...
(NIDA) in Sydney.
Career
In 1992, Kruger played the role of ballroom dancer Tina Sparkle in the film Strictly BallroomStrictly Ballroom
Strictly Ballroom is a 1992 Australian romantic comedy film directed and co-written by Baz Luhrmann and produced by M&A Productions. The film is the first installment in The Red Curtain Trilogy, Luhrmann's trilogy of theatre-motif-related films; the follow-ups were Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge!...
. Kruger's first television appearance was in 1992 as a reporter for Wonder World on the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
which ran for three years. She began with the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
in 1997 on 11AM as entertainment reporter.
In 2004, Kruger appeared on a television dance special titled The Making of Burn the Floor, which was aired on the 'W' Channel on Foxtel
Foxtel
Foxtel is an Australian pay television company, operating cable, direct broadcast satellite television and IPTV services. It was formed in 1995 through a joint venture established between Telstra and News Corporation....
. She then began co-hosting Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars (Australian TV series)
Dancing with the Stars is a Logie Award-winning, Australian light entertainment reality show airing on the Seven Network and filmed live from the HSV-7 studios in Melbourne...
, which she co-hosted until 2011. She has also hosted 10 Years Younger in 10 Days
10 Years Younger in 10 Days
10 Years Younger in 10 Days is a reality make-over show that screens on the Seven Network in Australia. The series is presented by Sonia Kruger and is based on the British series 10 Years Younger....
in the late 2000s, and is currently the entertainment reporter for Today Tonight
Today Tonight
Today Tonight is a controversial Australian News and Current Affairs program, produced by the Seven Network and shown weeknightly at in direct competition with rival Nine Network program A Current Affair....
.
Sonia previously hosted the morning program on Sydney's radio station Mix 106.5
Mix 106.5
Mix 106.5 is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia and is owned by the Australian Radio Network...
program with Dancing with the Stars judges Todd McKenney
Todd McKenney
Todd McKenney is an Australian entertainer. He is best known as a judge on Australia's version of Dancing with the Stars.He has won many dancing titles, and has trained in jazz, tap, acrobatics and ballroom dancing...
and Andy Grace
Andy Grace
Andy Grace is a commercial radio broadcaster and computer software developer.He started his career in 1995 on FOX FM Melbourne, but became best known for the national Net@Nite IT and computer talkback radio show, networked to all the Today's Austereo Network stations around Australia.The show ran...
.
On November 23 2011, it was confirmed that the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
had signed a contract with Kruger to host a new daytime talk show and host their rebooted version of Big Brother Australia
Big Brother Australia 2012
Big Brother Australia: Secrets is the upcoming ninth season of the Australian reality television series, Big Brother Australia. It will be the first to air on the Nine Network after it signed a deal with Southern Star Group in September 2011...
.
Personal life
McKenney, a co-star on Dancing with the Stars and good friend, has openly asked Kruger to have a child with him.Controversy
In 2008, during an episode of Dancing with the Stars, Kruger made a comment about a "sweat shop of illegal immigrants" working on her wardrobe for the Melbourne CupMelbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
carnival. Channel 7 later issued an apology for her statement.
In 2011, she caused further controversy when she wrote "I think it's nice you get on so well with your dad" on her Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
account regarding the difference in age between dancer Brynne Edelsten and her husband Geoffrey Edelsten
Geoffrey Edelsten
Geoffrey Walter Edelsten is an Australian medical entrepreneur. He was the first private owner of a major Australian football team when he bought the Sydney Swans Football Club in 1985. Edelsten was formerly a general practitioner, but was deregistered in New South Wales in 1988 and also in...
.