Sonia Kruger

Sonia Kruger was born on August 28, 1965, in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. She grew up in Waterford, Queensland, and frequently traveled to Gold Coast beaches for dance competitions. After graduating from Beenleigh State High School in 1982, she moved to Sydney to pursue an Arts Degree at the University of Technology, Sydney. During this period, she also taught dance at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), combining her academic pursuits with her passion for performing arts. Her early career demonstrated a blend of practical and academic engagement with the arts.

Kruger’s public career began in 1992 with her acting debut as Tina Sparkle in the film ‘Strictly Ballroom’. Beyond her acting role, she also served as a ballroom advisor for the film, highlighting her expertise in dance. Following this, she took on a hosting role for the children’s variety show ‘Wonder World!’ on the Nine Network. Her career expanded into television journalism, serving as an entertainment reporter for prominent Seven Network programs such as ‘Today Tonight’, ‘Sunrise’, and ’11AM’, covering a range of entertainment news and events. In 2004, Kruger joined the Seven Network as co-host of ‘Dancing with the Stars’, a role she held for eleven seasons, working alongside Daryl Somers and Daniel MacPherson. This position solidified her presence in Australian reality television. She also hosted the makeover reality show ’10 Years Younger in 10 Days’ in 2008.

In 2011, Kruger transitioned to the Nine Network, securing a development deal that led to her co-hosting the daytime talk show ‘Mornings’ with David Campbell, which later rebranded as ‘Today Extra’. From 2012 to 2014, she hosted ‘Big Brother Australia’ on the Nine Network, and later returned to host its revival on Channel 7 from 2020 to 2023. She also co-hosted ‘The Voice Australia’ in 2015 and returned to host it on Seven in 2021. Kruger has been a presenter for the Seven Network’s coverage of major events, including the Olympics, Melbourne Cup, and the Australian Open. Her contributions to Australian television were recognized with the Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television in 2023, among other nominations for popular presenter awards.