Sonia Couling (also spelled Sonia Cooling, Sonya Couling or Sonya Cooling) (; June 18, 1974 in Bangkok, Thailand), nickname Pim (; ), is a Thai model, actress and television personality. She has appeared in many Thai films and TV shows, been a VJ for MTV Asia, been a host for HBO Asia and has produced and hosted Thailand's Next Top Model in 2005. Couling has also acted in Hollywood and French productions. She is of English and Thai descent.
Biography
Early life Couling is Eurasian or Luk khrueng, with an English father and a Thai mother; fluent in Thai, English and French.Marengo Equestrian Shows by Sonia Couling 2017 on Paul Poole (South East Asia) She also speaks German and Italian. She attended St Michael's all-girls boarding school in Surrey, England and studied German literature at University College London. She graduated from European Business School London (EBS London) with Bachelor of International Business in 1998.
Career Couling started her modeling career in a 7Up advertisement when she was 13. While attending boarding school and university in the UK, she worked with Storm modeling agency in London.
Once back in Asia, she settled into a supermodel role, and has been in advertisements for Asian beauty product companies, such L'Oreal Asia, Olay Asia, Nivea Visage, Eucerin, 1st Asian Ambassador for Rado watches, and Clairol Worldwid.
In 1998 Couling became VJ for MTV Asia, based in Singapore. She was the first Thai woman to .
In 1999 Couling was voted Thailand's sexiest woman by FHM. The UK magazine FHM chose her as number one sexiest woman in Thailand and second in Asia and 10 sexiest women in the world. In 2016 she was chosen as the most beautiful Thai actress.
In 2002 she won Best Actress in a Lead Role at the TV Gold Awards (Thai television awards) for her performance as Phitawan Satchamat in Thai TV series (2001).
Couling also works behind the cameras producing TV show Thailand's Next Top Model (2005) and internationally as the executive producer on A Stranger in Paradise (2013).
In addition, Couling has starred in international films and TV series, including The Mark, The Mark: Redemption and Strike Back : Legacy.
In 2018, she appeared on The Face Thailand season 4 All Stars and The Face Men Thailand (season 2) as a mentor and The Next Boy/Girl Band Thailand as a producer.
The face of Muay Thai Couling, who is Thailand's number one international celebrity and has been involved in many Muay Thai projects, has been chosen to be the face of Muay Thai.
Her in-depth experience with Muay Thai, includes having been an English announcer in Jao Muay Thai Fight at Siam Boxing Stadium on Thai TV3 for 3 years, hosted and MC'd The 2010 King's Cup and The 2010 Queen's Cup and plenty more. She, moreover, appeared on The Challenger Muay Thai (2011) on AXN as a ring announcer, and hosted Muay Thai Premier League (2012) on FOX.
Personal life On 8 September 2007, Couling married Paul-Dominique Vacharasinthu, who is Thai-French. They have a son, Pasha-Dominic Vacharasinthu (b. 21 October 2015).
Couling flies single engine planes, reserve pilot for the Royal Thai Air Force where she was a guest pilot on the F5 and F16 fighter planes. She is also a horse rider and female polo player.
In January 2023, she was a guest at the royal wedding of Princess Azemah of Brunei.
Filmography Films Year Title Role Studio Notes Notes #2 With 1997 Destiny Upside Down Chik Five Star Production Lead Role Thailand Jesdaporn Pholdee, Shahkrit Yamnam2003Final CombatButterflyLead RoleHollywoodTonny White2007HistoryLead RoleThailandPrinya Intachai2011Largo Winch II : The Burma ConspiracyWangPan EuropéenneGuest RoleFrance / Belgium / Germany -2012An Ordinary Love Story Winnie Magical Love Lead Role Thailand Billy OganBlood and High HeelsRose RedDotkom MediaLead RoleHungaryIván KamarásThe Mark Dao Pure Flix EntertainmentLead Role Hollywood Craig Sheffer 2013 The Mark: Redemption Dao Pure Flix Entertainment Lead Role Hollywood Craig ShefferA Stranger in Paradise Chris Cinema Management Group Supporting Role Hollywood -2014Glory DaysTammyRadical EntertainmentGuest RoleHollywood -2019Paradise BeachAom7e Apache FilmSupporting RoleFranceTewfik JallabGeneral CommanderSonia DekkerSaradan MediaMain CastHollywoodSteven Seagal2024Operation Blood HuntHeiraniMain Cast Hollywood Louis MandylorTBAAl B. and the Concrete JungleJaylaOne Ocean ProductionsSupporting RoleHollywood Alejandro Santoni
Television
TV series Television Year Title Role Network Notes With1994Sonthana Prasa ChonDuaendenChannel 5, ThailandLead RoleSanya Khunakon1995Chaopo ChampenNatchaChannel 5, ThailandLead RoleJetrin Wattanasin1996Yiam WimanWaeophloyChannel 3, ThailandLead RoleJohnny Anfone1997Tawan Yo SaengTawan Yosaeng DechabodinChannel 3, ThailandLead RoleSarunyoo WongkrachangLueatrak LueatritsayaChannel 3, ThailandLead RoleKanchai Kamnoetploy1998Khwamrak Kap Ngoentra (Love and Money)IrinChannel 3, ThailandLead RoleBilly Ogan1999Phreng NgaoMiriam (Muk)Channel 3, ThailandLead RoleThanakorn Poshyananda2001MayaPhitawan SatchamatChannel 7, ThailandLead RoleThiraphat Satchakun2002Nang Miao Yom SiGirlChannel 3, ThailandGuest RoleAphinan PraseritwatnakunChaochai Huajai Ken RoiPrincess Minya Channel 7, ThailandGuest RolePatiparn Patavekarn 2003 Phayakrai 6 Phandin (Asian King) Pinpak Channel 3, Thailand Lead Role Dom Hetrakul2009Susan PhutesuanGolden Lotus (Mataenai / Nithithepin)Channel 3, ThailandMain CastChatchai PlengpanichSood Sanae HaSophita "Ta" JarukornChannel 3, ThailandMain CastWilly McIntosh2010Fai Amata (Be A Better Man)Kelly YaoChannel 9, ThailandLead RoleShahkrit Yamnam2012Nuer Mek 2Police Major Rawi IngkhaphatChannel 3, ThailandSupporting RoleChatchai Plengpanich2015Ugly Betty ThailandAlisa "Alice" PhalakonThairath TV, ThailandMain Cast -Phoeng DaoRada SasiradaPPTV, ThailandLead RoleThana IamniyomStrike Back : LegacyLawanSky One (UK), Cinemax (US)Supporting Role -2018My Hero : Matuphoom Haeng HuachaiMadam Maytu AChannel 3, ThailandMain CastShahkrit Yamnam
TV Program Television Year Title Role Network1998-2000MTV AsiaVJMTV Asia1998Zoomherself/ as hostChannel 5, Thailand2000Asian Television Awardsherself/ as host2002-2005Jao Muay Thai Fightherself/ as AnnouncerThai TV 3, Thailand2005Thailand's Next Top ModelPresenter & HeadjudgeThai TV 3, Thailand2005Miss Universe 2005'; Costume Eventsherself/ as hostNBC, Telemundo, Channel 72007Asian Television Awardsherself/ as host20??HBO Centralherself/ as hostHBO Asia2010The Price of BeautyBeauty AmbassadorVH1, United StatesThe Oneherself/ as hostChannel 9, Thailand2011Miss Earth 2011herself/ as hostABS-CBN, PhilippinesThe Challenger Muay Thaiherself/ as Ring AnnouncerAXN, United States2012Muay Thai Premier Leagueherself/ as hostFOX, FOX sport2013Miss Grand International 2013herself/ as hostChannel 7, Thailand2014Miss Grand International 2014herself/ as hostChannel 7, Thailand2017The Face Thailand season 3herself/ as guest mentorChannel 3, ThailandBeauty Battle Thailandherself/ as hostOne 31, Thailand 2018The Face Thailand season 4 All Stars herself/ as mentor Channel 3, ThailandThe Next Boy/Girl Band Thailandherself/ as producerChannel 7, ThailandThe Face Men Thailand (season 2)herself/ as mentorPPTV, Thailand
Production Thailand's Next Top Model as Executive producer A Stranger in Paradise as Executive producer
Endorsements
Seven Up (1989, Thailand) (debut) Coffeemate (1992, Thailand) Kotex Soft Dry (1995, Thailand) Nissin Cup Noodle (1996, Thailand) Spy Drinks (1999, Thailand) Honda City Type-Z (2002, Thailand) Sony Vega TV (2005, Thailand) Ricoh Printers (2005, Thailand) AIS GSM (2006, Thailand) Olay Total Effects (2007, Thailand) Ocean 1 Tower (2008, Thailand) Eucerin (2012, Thailand) Sunsilk (Thailand) Nivea (Thailand) Doritos 3D (Thailand) Kodak Film (Thailand) Christian Dior; J’adore L’or (2018, Thailand) Clairol Shampoo (Worldwide) Olay Total Effects (Asia) L'Oreal (Asia) Rado Watches (Asia) Nikon Cameras (Asia) Secrets Deodorant (Thailand & Philippines) Smart Telecom (Philippines) Singapore Telecom (Singapore) Haagan Dazs (Singapore) Eucerin (2017, Malaysia)
Awards and nominations +AwardsYearAwardCategoryNominated WorkResult1996TV Gold AwardsBest Actress in a Lead RoleYiam Wiman2002TV Gold AwardsBest Actress in a Lead RoleMaya
References
External links
Sonia Couling on Doramatv.ru Sonia Couling on Kinopoisk.ru
Sonia Couling on Port.hu Sonia Couling on Cinemagia.ro Sonia Couling on Daum Siam Zone : Star Gallery : Sonia Couling Sonia Couling on World's Most Beautiful Face Fashion Model Directory - Sonia Couling Sonia couling on Eurasian Blog