| Maria Venuti | |
| Birth Date: | 1941 3, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Spouse: | Tony Hughes (divorced) |
| Children: | 1 |
Maria Francesia Anna Venuti (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. 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.
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.
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]
| 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 |
| |
| 2012 | Bathing Franky | Franky | Feature film[5] | |
| 2014 | Fat Pizza vs. Housos | Mama Gigliotti | Feature film |
| 1978 | Il trovatore | Ines | ||
| 1979 | Six Tonight | Guest - Herself | TV special | |
| 1980 | Celebrity Tattletales | Herself & Tony Hughes | TV series, 2 episodes | |
| 1981;1982 | The Mike Walsh Show | Guest - Herself | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1982, 1983 | The Mike Walsh Show | Guest Performer | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1983; 1984 | The Mike Walsh Show | Guest Performer | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1984 | The Mike Walsh Show | Musical Guest | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1989 | The Bert Newton Show | Guest - Herself with Joey Perrone | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1989 | Celebrity Family Feud | Herself - Contestant with Jeanne Little & Noeline Brown | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1990 | A Country Practice | Liz Scales | TV series | |
| 1991 | Celebrity Wheel Of Fortune | Herself - Contestant with Brian Wenzel, Agro & Fat Cat | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1993 | G.P. | Bella Tucci | TV series | |
| 1995 | Ten's 30th Anniversary Special | Herself | TV Special | |
| 2000–2007 | Fat Pizza | Mama Gigliotti | TV series | |
| 2002–03 | Always Greener | Lorraine | TV series | |
| 2006 | Mornings with Kerri-Anne | Herself | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 2006 | The Big Night In with John Foreman | Guest | TV series, Season 2, 3 episodes | |
| 2008 | Stupid Stupid Man | Margaret | TV series | |
| 2011 | Swift and Shift Couriers | Maria Shembry | TV series | |
| 2014 | Celebrity Come Dine With Me Australia | Guest | TV series, Season 1, episode 3 | |
| 2019–2022 | Fat Pizza: Back in Business | Mama Gigliotti | TV series, Season 6 | |
| 2022 | A Current Affair | Herself | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 2022; 2023 | The Morning Show | Herself | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 2023 | The Morning Show | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
Source: AusStage
| 1985 | Women Behind Bars | ||
| 1990-91 | Lend Me A Tenor | ||
| 1995 | Maria Venuti | ||
| 1998 | Valentines Day | ||
| 2000 | Mama Claus is Coming to Town | ||
| 2008 | Light the Night | ||
| 2008 | An All-Star Tribute to Peter Allen |
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] (wins only)|-| 2000| Maria Venuti| JohnCampbell Fellowship Award| |-