Sonia Kruger reveals how she landed the iconic role as Tina Sparkle in Strictly Ballroom

Big Brother host Sonia Kruger reveals how she landed the iconic role as Tina Sparkle in Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom

She’s the host of Big Brother in 2021, but in 1992 Sonia Kruger became a household name after being cast in the popular film, Strictly Ballroom. 

And now, more than three decades after playing the role of Tina Sparkle, the 55-year-old has revealed exactly how she landed the gig as the iconic character.  

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, the blonde beauty admitted she was meant to be a ‘dancing extra’, but she was an ambitious girl who ‘wanted more.’

Iconic role: Sonia Kruger is the host of Big Brother, but three decades ago she became a household name after being cast as Tina Sparke in Strictly Ballroom. In a recent interview with The Daily Telegraph, she has revealed how she got the gig

Sonia said she knocked on the door of casting director, Faith Martin.  

‘I knocked on her door and she said, bless her, “OK let’s have a chat.”

Sonia then told Faith that she was a professional dancer who had aspirations to have a speaking role in the film, too.

Faith went on to tell a young Sonia about the role of Tina Sparkle, which seemed to spark her interest, however the team wasn’t casting for another year. 

Despite losing hope, Sonia said: ‘But sure enough a year later she called me up and invited me to audition for Baz and that was it. I got the part,’ she added.

Taking the lead: Big Brother host Sonia was also a ballroom adviser in the movie and helped teach her fellow cast members how to dance

Taking the lead: Big Brother host Sonia was also a ballroom adviser in the movie and helped teach her fellow cast members how to dance

Ambitious: Sonia said she knocked on the door of casting director, Faith Martin. 'I knocked on her door and she said, bless her, "OK let's have a chat"

Ambitious: Sonia said she knocked on the door of casting director, Faith Martin. ‘I knocked on her door and she said, bless her, “OK let’s have a chat”

In the romantic comedy, directed by Baz Luhrmann, Paul Mercurio stars as Scott Hastings, an Australian ballroom dancer who pairs with beginner-dancer Fran (Tara Morice) after his maverick style earns him the disdain of his conservative colleagues. 

Together they set out to win the National Championship dancing title and show the Ballroom Confederation that they’re wrong when they say, ‘there are no new steps!’ 

Sonia was also a ballroom adviser in the movie and helped teach her fellow cast members how to dance.

Specialising in Ballroom and Latin American dancing, she has represented Australia at the Amateur British Ballroom Championships and was the Australian Ballroom, Latin & New Vogue Professional Champion. 

Oscar-winning designer Catherine Martin, who is married to Luhrmann, created sets and costumes for Strictly Ballroom, for which she won two Australian Film Institute Awards. 

In early 2014, mother-of-two Catherine was inducted into the Rodeo Drive ‘Walk of Style’ for her work on The Great Gatsby, directed by husband Baz.   

Flashback: Pictured, actor John Hannan (who plays Tina Sparkle's dancing partner Ken Railings),and Sonia Kruger

Flashback: Pictured, actor John Hannan (who plays Tina Sparkle’s dancing partner Ken Railings),and Sonia Kruger