Maria Venuti

Last updated

Maria Venuti
AM
Maria Venuti (6640178025).jpg
Venuti in 2012
Born (1941-03-07) 7 March 1941 (age 83)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • pianist
  • author
SpouseTony Hughes (divorced)
Children1

Maria Francesia Anna Venuti AM (born 7 March 1941) is an Australian actress, entertainer and author, who has appeared in numerous stage, television shows and film productions, over 50 years.

Contents

Maria Venuti (28590600621).jpg
Maria Venuti (8284163308).jpg

Venuti is a singer, as well as an accomplished pianist who is noted for her work in cabaret and supper clubs, including working throughout Asia.

Biography

Venuti's father was from Sicily, and came to Australia in 1926 and her mother, Bella who was 18 years younger than her father, was from Cairo, Egypt and came to Sydney in 1939. [1] [2] She has a daughter named Bianca by her previous husband, Tony; they are now divorced. She has a half sister, Gina and had a half brother Francesco, who died of Diphtheria. Venuti has written a memoir, called A Whole Lot of Front.

Her early life was unsettled and when she was in kindergarten, she moved schools four times because of bullying due to her descent.

Stalking and intruder incident

In November 2016, Venuti was hospitalized after suffering a stroke, and was subsequently placed in a coma after the stress of an intruder entering her home in Gladesville, New South Wales. The police had been called three times previously, after the 38-year-old man was seen lingering outside her home and stalking Venuti, turning up with flowers and alleging he was married to her. The man was taken under escort to the Royal North Shore Hospital, for a mental evaluation. [3] [4]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleType
1987 Les Patterson Saves the World Air Hostess (uncredited)Feature film
1994 Gino AngelinaFeature film
1996 Fistful of Flies MagdaFeature film
2002Score!The Mother
2003 Fat Pizza Mama Gigliotti*Big Mamma's Boy as Mrs. Cotoletta (2011)
2012 Bathing Franky FrankyFeature film [5]
2014 Fat Pizza vs. Housos Mama GigliottiFeature film

Television

YearTitleRoleType
1978Il trovatoreInes
1979Six TonightGuest – HerselfTV special
1980Celebrity TattletalesHerself & Tony HughesTV series, 2 episodes
1981, 1982 The Mike Walsh Show Guest – HerselfTV series, 1 episode
1982CabaretRegular singerSBS TV series
1982, 1983 The Mike Walsh Show Guest PerformerTV series, 1 episode
1983, 1984 The Mike Walsh Show Guest PerformerTV series, 1 episode
1984 The Mike Walsh Show Musical GuestTV series, 1 episode
1989 The Bert Newton Show Guest – Herself with Joey PerroneTV series, 1 episode
1989 Celebrity Family Feud Herself – Contestant with Jeanne Little & Noeline BrownTV series, 1 episode
1990 A Country Practice Liz ScalesTV series
1991 Celebrity Wheel Of Fortune Herself – Contestant with Brian Wenzel, Agro & Fat CatTV series, 1 episode
1993 G.P. Bella TucciTV series
1995Ten's 30th Anniversary SpecialHerselfTV Special
2000–2007 Fat Pizza Mama GigliottiTV series
2002–2003 Always Greener LorraineTV series
2006Dusty: Little By LittleHerselfABC TV series, 1 episode
2006Mornings with Kerri-AnneHerselfTV series, 1 episode
2006 The Big Night In with John Foreman GuestTV series, Season 2, 3 episodes
2008 Stupid Stupid Man MargaretTV series
2011 Swift and Shift Couriers Maria ShembryTV series
2014 Celebrity Come Dine With Me Australia GuestTV series, Season 1, episode 3
2019–2022 Fat Pizza: Back in Business Mama GigliottiTV series, Season 6
2022A Current AffairHerselfTV series, 1 episode
2022, 2023The Morning ShowHerselfTV series, 1 episode
2023The Morning ShowHerselfTV series, 1 episode

Stage

Source: AusStage

YearTitleRole
1985Women Behind Bars
1990–91Lend Me A Tenor
1995Maria Venuti
1998Valentines Day
2000Mama Claus is Coming to Town
2008Light the Night
2008An All-Star Tribute to Peter Allen

Bibliography

Awards

Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. [7]

YearNominee / workAwardResult (wins only)
2000Maria VenutiJohn Campbell Fellowship AwardWon

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References

  1. "Maria Venuti makes her 70s sexy". News.com.au. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  2. "Maria Venuti on ageless skin". News.com.au. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  3. "Maria Venuti hospitalized after stroke". MSN.com.au. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  4. "Entertainer Maria Venuti suffered stroke after alleged stalker entered her Sydney home".
  5. "Review: Bathing Franky". Urban Cinefile. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  6. Stayner, Samantha (24 March 2011). "Tim Ferguson, David Malouf and Maria Venuti". ABC.net.au. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  7. "MO Award Winners". Mo Awards. Retrieved 16 March 2022.