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Maria Venuti
Australian actress, entertainer and author
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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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 ex-husband Tony Hughes have one chld, daughter Bianca. 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
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Les Patterson Saves the World | Air Hostess (uncredited) | Feature film |
| 1994 | Gino | Angelina | Feature film |
| 1996 | Fistful of Flies | Magda | Feature film |
| 2002 | Score! | The Mother | |
| 2003 | Fat Pizza | Mama Gigliotti | Feature film |
| 2011 | Big Mamma's Boy | Mrs. Cotoletta | |
| 2012 | Bathing Franky | Franky | Feature film[5] |
| 2014 | Fat Pizza vs. Housos | Mama Gigliotti | Feature film |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Cabaret | Regular singer | TV series |
| 1990 | A Country Practice | Liz Scales | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1993 | G.P. | Bella Tucci | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2000–2007 | Fat Pizza | Mama Gigliotti | TV series, 19 episodes |
| 2002; 2003 | Always Greener | Lorraine | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2008 | Stupid Stupid Man | Margaret | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2011 | Swift and Shift Couriers | Maria Shembry | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2019–2022 | Fat Pizza: Back in Business | Mama Gigliotti | TV series, season 6, 11 episodes |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Venue / Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Women Behind Bars | University of Sydney | |
| 1990–1991 | Lend Me a Tenor | Maria | His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, Theatre Royal Sydney, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Canberra Theatre |
| 1995 | Maria Venuti | Solo show | Queanbeyan School of Arts Cafe |
| 1998 | Valentines Day | Marian Street Theatre, Sydney with Northside Theatre Company | |
| 2000 | Mama Claus is Coming to Town | Solo show | Capers Cabaret, Melbourne |
| 2008 | Light the Night | City Recital Hall, Sydney | |
| 2008 | An All-Star Tribute to Peter Allen | Star Theatre, Sydney |
Bibliography
- Whole Load of Front (2011)[7]
