Daniella Pellegrini (born 25 September 1982) is a South African television presenter, producer, and dubbing artist. She began gymnastics and tumbling at age three, ultimately competing internationally as a member of the South African national tumbling team.

Early life

Pellegrini was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is the youngest of four children. Pellegrini started gymnastics and tumbling at the age of three and had a 16-year career. She attended Rivonia Primary School, where she began acting in school plays, and later completed her secondary education at Eden College in Hyde Park. She subsequently earned a communications degree at Rand Afrikaans University, majoring in Journalism, Human Movement Studies, and Communications.

Career

Gymnastics and tumbling

In 1989, she was selected to join the Advanced Development Program. In 1992 Pellegrini qualified for the 11th Tumbling & Trampoline World Championships/World Age group Games.

At that time, South African athletes were largely barred from international competitions due to apartheid-era sanctions. Pellegrini, alongside tumblers like Tseko Mogotsi, was one of the first competitors to join the South African national team, to receive Springbok colours, and to represent her country on an international platform. She won a bronze medal at the 1992 World Age Group Games in Auckland, New Zealand.

Over the following decade, Pellegrini competed eight times for the South African national tumbling team, winning 56 medals and 15 trophies at national and international events. In 2002 she received a university scholarship.

Tumbling awards and titles

RankGroupEventYear 1st Club Champion Gymnastics Unlimited 1992 1st 10&Under South African Championships 1992 3rd 10&Under 11th Tumbling and Trampoline World Championships – Auckland, New Zealand 1992 1st Winner Sandton Junior Sports Woman of the Year (Awarded by cricketing great Dr Ali Bacha) 1993 9th 11-12yrs Age Group 11th Tumbling and Trampoline World Age Group Games – Vila Do Conde, Portugal 1994 2nd 13-14yrs Age Group South African National Championships 1996 16th 15-16yrs Age Group 12th World Age Group Games – Kamloops, Canada 1996 1st Club Champion Wierda TTR Tumbling Club 1997 4th 15-17yrs Age Group Indo-Pacific Games – Durban, South Africa 1997 1st Club Champion Gym Masters 1998 6th 15-17yrs Age Group 13th World Age Group Games – Sydney, Australia 1998 By invitation 7th All African Games – Opening Ceremony South Africa 1999 5th 15-17yrs Age Group 15th Tumbling and Trampoline World Age Group Games/Championships – Sun City, South Africa 1999 2nd 15-17yrs Age Group South African Championships 2000 1st Club Champion Gym Masters 2000 1st Female Tumbler of the Year South African Gymnastics Federation 2000 (First year ever awarded) 1st Club Champion Gym Masters 2001 1st Female Tumbler of the Year South African Gymnastics Federation 2001 1st Women 17 & Over South African Championships 2001 1st Women 17 & Over 16th Tumbling and Trampoline World Championships – Odense, Denmark 2001 3rd Open International Test: South Africa vs. France – Mafikeng, RSA 2002

Fitness After 8 years of retirement from international sport, Pellegrini began competing again as a competitive fitness athlete in 2010. She won debut competition FAME UK 2010 as well as the 2010 Fitness Britain Fitness Championship.

Fitness awards and titles RankGroupEventYear 1st Fitness Champion FAME UK 2010 1st Fitness Champion Fitness Britain 2010

Broadcasting career

TV She began her television presenting career in 1999 on e-TV ’s Craz-e, and later presented on Vicious Delicious, a youth-oriented program on DStv on channel 'GO', the country's first ever youth channel. She interviewed DJs Paul van Dyke, Paul Oakenfold, Ferry Corsten, and Tim Deluxe, along with bands like Sepultura.

Radio

While studying her bachelor's degree and working for RAU Radio in 2002, she joined 5FM Music on a radio DJing training program. In 2002, she joined a radio broadcasting training programme at national station 5FM, which led to subsequent presenting roles. Later that year, she came runner up in the 94.7 Highveld Stereo Hot Jocks Competition. At the end of 2002, she was offered to co-host a radio show on Edgars Music Radio. In 2003, she was selected to be the anchor presenter on CNA Live. In 2004, she signed with 94.7 Highveld Stereo as a presenter. In 2006, she relocated to London and joined the online station Radio SA.

Voice-over

Pellegrini's voice-over work has included television promos, commercials and network station identifiers for broadcasters and media brands, particularly for SABC 1. She has voiced projects for/with global brands including Fox, FX, National Geographic, Fox Retro, NatGeo Wild, Sony Entertainment Television, Animax, Walt Disney, Nickelodeon, Ministry of Sound, BBC World, Guide Dogs, DStv, GO, Vicious Delicious, Sheer Dance, DJ Online, SAfm, Radio 2000, Rennies Travel, JNC, Garnier, and Laundry Monsters.

Acting and producing In 1998, Pellegrini joined the SABC in her first professional acting role on Sasko Sam, a children's educational fitness show and worked on other smaller productions as well as music and corporate videos. In 2006, Pellegrini moved to London and continued to study acting, accents and comedy. She has worked on a number of short films including Strange Meeting and the feature Superman: Requiem.

In 2010, she began producing. Eight months after she was cast in Superman: Requiem, she was invited to join the production team. Her debut film as a producer 'Once Were' is an improvisational acting short. She currently has several projects in different stages of development.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes2017Broken DarknessNews Reporter 2012 Once Were Angelina Also Producer2012FracturedWoman in coat (Not named) 2012 Strange Meeting Helen – 2011 Superman: Requiem TV News Reporter Also Producer 2011 John Simon Lucy Mounter Also Associate Producer 2010 Intelligence Lucy Davenport Also Co-Producer

References

External links