Maria Venuti

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.

Maria Venuti

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

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
Year Title Role Type
1987Les Patterson Saves the WorldAir Hostess (uncredited)Feature film
1994GinoAngelinaFeature film
1996Fistful of FliesMagdaFeature film
2002Score!The Mother
2003Fat PizzaMama Gigliotti*Big Mamma's Boy as Mrs. Cotoletta (2011)
2012Bathing FrankyFrankyFeature film[5]
2014Fat Pizza vs. HousosMama GigliottiFeature film

Television
Year Title Role Type
1978Il trovatoreInes
1990A Country PracticeLiz ScalesTV series
1993G.P.Bella TucciTV series
2000–2007Fat PizzaMama GigliottiTV series
2002–03Always GreenerLorraineTV series
2006The Big Night In with John ForemanGuestTV series, Season 2, 3 episodes
2008Stupid Stupid ManMargaretTV series
2011Swift and Shift CouriersMaria ShembryTV series
2014Celebrity Come Dine With Me AustraliaGuestTV series, Season 1, episode 3
2019–2022Fat Pizza: Back in BusinessMama GigliottiTV series, Season 6

Stage

Source: AusStage

Year Title Role
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
  • Whole Load of Front (2011)[6]

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]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
2000 Maria Venuti JohnCampbell Fellowship Award Won

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.
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