30 YEARS OF STRICTLY BALLROOM 'I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT THE FILM'
Playing Tina Sparkle changed Sonia Kruger’s life in every way possible
It’s been 30 years since Baz Luhrmann’s directorial debut Strictly Ballroom danced its way into cinemas – and the hearts of fans across the globe – marking the beginning of not only his wildly successful career as a filmmaker, but launching those of Aussie actors Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice and Sonia Kruger.
“There were a bunch of us who were young and hadn’t really done anything before – we certainly hadn’t made a film,” recalls Sonia, who starred as professional ballroom dancer Tina Sparkle in the 1992 hit.
Having recently reunited with co-stars Paul, 59, and Tara, 58, to celebrate the anniversary, she adds, “I think we were all just loving the fact that we were in a movie together. We were socialising a lot! Paul even picked me up on his motorcycle.”
SURPRISE HIT
Despite the cast all being newcomers, Sonia, 56, remembers she still felt in awe of her co-stars.
“Tara had been to drama school and she was a serious actor, but she didn’t really know how to dance,” recalls Sonia. “Paul was this great dancer, but he wasn’t really in the acting world so much, while I was a ballroom dancer, so I knew that aspect of the film, but I’d done zero acting – and I think it showed!
“But it was one of the greatest times in my life really because I had zero responsibilities and suddenly this whole world opened up. As I’ve said to Baz, if it wasn’t for Strictly Ballroom, I wouldn’t have a career.”
Now the host of Big Brother and The Voice Australia, Sonia says of the film’s surprise success, “We made a movie and we thought no one would go see it, but eventually it went to the Cannes Film Festival and we started getting reports back that this Australian film had just been a hit – such a hit that it got a 15-minute standing ovation and it was the standout movie that year!
“And so, suddenly, the rest of the world was talking about this little Australian film that cost $3 million. I think it went on to gross $75 million worldwide.”
CAREER CHANGE
Sonia was so excited by the reception of the film, she
immediately quit her day job.
“I actually left that day and went, ‘You know what? This is not the job for me. I have to go.’ I think I was working at a hotel or something. I knew the movie was premiering that night and I just couldn’t stop thinking about that. I couldn’t concentrate on what I was supposed to be doing at work, so I quit.”
Sonia needn’t have worried about that job. She went on to carve out a hugely successful career in media, reporting for various entertainment shows, before hosting Dancing With The Stars Australia.
While her TV schedule is demanding, Sonia still finds time to dance, which she credits for keeping her in tip-top shape.
“To me, the power of dance is the fact that it can take you out of the everyday and put you into a happy place,” she says.
“Dance has always been about escapism. When I started, I escaped into this world of sequins and music, and I loved that. From the age of nine, it made me incredibly happy.”
'It was one of the greatest times in my life'