Sonia Couling
# Sonia Couling

Sonia Couling (also spelled Sonia Cooling, Sonya Couling or Sonya Cooling) (Thai: ซอนย่า คูลลิ่ง; June 18, 1974 in Bangkok, Thailand), nickname Pim (Thai: พิม; RTGS: Phim), 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. 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 Seven Up 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, she has been the face of beauty products over Asia, like L'Oreal Asia, Olay Asia, Nivea Visage, Eucerin, 1st Asian Ambassador for Rado watches, Clairol Worldwide and plenty more.

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 Maya [th] (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 Yamnam |
| 2003 | Final Combat | Butterfly | | Lead Role | Hollywood | Tonny White |
| 2007 | History | | | Lead Role | Thailand | Prinya Intachai |
| 2011 | Largo Winch II : The Burma Conspiracy | Wang | Pan Européenne | Guest Role | France / Belgium / Germany | - |
| 2012 | An Ordinary Love Story | Winnie | Magical Love | Lead Role | Thailand | Billy Ogan |
| 2012 | Blood and High Heels | Rose Red | Dotkom Media | Lead Role | Hungary | Iván Kamarás |
| 2012 | The Mark | Dao | Pure Flix Entertainment | Lead Role | Hollywood | Craig Sheffer |
| 2013 | The Mark: Redemption | Dao | Pure Flix Entertainment | Lead Role | Hollywood | Craig Sheffer |
| 2013 | A Stranger in Paradise | Chris | Cinema Management Group | Supporting Role | Hollywood | - |
| 2014 | Glory Days | Tammy | Radical Entertainment | Guest Role | Hollywood | - |
| 2019 | Paradise Beach | Aom | 7e Apache Film | Supporting Role | France | Tewfik Jallab |
| 2019 | General Commander | Sonia Dekker | Saradan Media | Main Cast | Hollywood | Steven Seagal |
| TBA | Al B. and the Concrete Jungle | Jayla | One Ocean Productions | Supporting Role | Hollywood | Alejandro Santoni |

## Television

### TV series

Television :

| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes | With |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1994 | Sonthana Prasa Chon | Duaenden | Channel 5, Thailand | Lead Role | Sanya Khunakon |
| 1995 | Chaopo Champen | Natcha | Channel 5, Thailand | Lead Role | Jetrin Wattanasin |
| 1996 | Yiam Wiman | Waeophloy | Channel 3, Thailand | Lead Role | Johnny Anfone |
| 1997 | Tawan Yo Saeng | Tawan Yosaeng Dechabodin | Channel 3, Thailand | Lead Role | Sarunyoo Wongkrachang |
| 1997 | Lueatrak Lueatritsaya | | Channel 3, Thailand | Lead Role | Kanchai Kamnoetploy |
| 1998 | Khwamrak Kap Ngoentra (Love and Money) | Irin | Channel 3, Thailand | Lead Role | Billy Ogan |
| 1999 | Phreng Ngao | Miriam (Muk) | Channel 3, Thailand | Lead Role | Thanakorn Poshyananda |
| 2001 | Maya | Phitawan Satchamat | Channel 7, Thailand | Lead Role | Thiraphat Satchakun |
| 2002 | Nang Miao Yom Si | Girl | Channel 3, Thailand | Guest Role | Aphinan Praseritwatnakun |
| 2002 | Chaochai Huajai Ken Roi | Princess Minya | Channel 7, Thailand | Guest Role | Patiparn Patavekarn |
| 2003 | Phayakrai 6 Phandin (Asian King) | Pinpak | Channel 3, Thailand | Lead Role | Dom Hetrakul |
| 2009 | Susan Phutesuan | Golden Lotus (Mataenai / Nithithepin) | Channel 3, Thailand | Main Cast | Chatchai Plengpanich |
| 2009 | Sood Sanae Ha | Sophita "Ta" Jarukorn | Channel 3, Thailand | Main Cast | Willy McIntosh |
| 2010 | Fai Amata (Be A Better Man) | Kelly Yao | Channel 9, Thailand | Lead Role | Shahkrit Yamnam |
| 2012 | Nuer Mek 2 | Police Major Rawi Ingkhaphat | Channel 3, Thailand | Supporting Role | Chatchai Plengpanich |
| 2015 | Ugly Betty Thailand | Alisa "Alice" Phalakon | Thairath TV, Thailand | Main Cast | - |
| 2015 | Phoeng Dao | Rada Sasirada | PPTV, Thailand | Lead Role | Thana Iamniyom |
| 2015 | Strike Back : Legacy | Lawan | Sky One (UK), Cinemax (US) | Supporting Role | - |
| 2018 | My Hero : Matuphoom Haeng Huachai | Madam Maytu A | Channel 3, Thailand | Main Cast | Shahkrit Yamnam |

### TV Program

Television :

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1998-2000 | MTV Asia | VJ | MTV Asia |
| 1998 | Zoom | herself/ as host | Channel 5, Thailand |
| 2000 | Asian Television Awards | herself/ as host | |
| 2002-2005 | Jao Muay Thai Fight | herself/ as Announcer | Thai TV 3, Thailand |
| 2005 | Thailand's Next Top Model | Presenter & Headjudge | Thai TV 3, Thailand |
| 2005 | Miss Universe 2005'; Costume Events | herself/ as host | NBC, Telemundo, Channel 7 |
| 2007 | Asian Television Awards | herself/ as host | |
| 20?? | HBO Central | herself/ as host | HBO Asia |
| 2010 | The Price of Beauty | Beauty Ambassador | VH1, United States |
| 2010 | The One | herself/ as host | Channel 9, Thailand |
| 2011 | Miss Earth 2011 | herself/ as host | ABS-CBN, Philippines |
| 2011 | The Challenger Muay Thai | herself/ as Ring Announcer | AXN, United States |
| 2012 | Muay Thai Premier League | herself/ as host | FOX, FOX sport |
| 2013 | Miss Grand International 2013 | herself/ as host | Channel 7, Thailand |
| 2014 | Miss Grand International 2014 | herself/ as host | Channel 7, Thailand |
| 2017 | The Face Thailand season 3 | herself/ as guest mentor | Channel 3, Thailand |
| 2017 | Beauty Battle Thailand | herself/ as host | One 31, Thailand |
| 2018 | The Face Thailand season 4 All Stars | herself/ as mentor | Channel 3, Thailand |
| 2018 | The Next Boy/Girl Band Thailand | herself/ as producer | Channel 7, Thailand |
| 2018 | The Face Men Thailand (season 2) | herself/ as mentor | PPTV, 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

Awards :

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated Work | Result |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1996 | TV Gold Awards | Best Actress in a Lead Role | Yiam Wiman | Nominated |
| 2002 | TV Gold Awards | Best Actress in a Lead Role | Maya | Won |
