Bio

Sonja starred in her first major film role in the Canadian feature film PUNCH. For her performance she was awarded ‘Best Actress’ by the Vancouver Film Critics Circle and received a special Artistic Merit Award from Women in Film and Video. After the success of PUNCH, Sonja was cast in series lead roles on such shows as Cold Squad and Godiva’s (both of which earned her Leo and Gemini nominations), as well as roles in numerous features including CONTROL ALT DELETE; ELEGY in which she appeared opposite Dennis Hopper and Ben Kingsley; WHERE THE TRUTH LIES directed by Atom Egoyan; and FIDO in which she acted opposite Billy Connolly and Tim Blake Nelson. She also had starring roles in CATCH AND RELEASE (in which she appeared opposite Jennifer Garner, Timothy Olyphant, and Kevin Smith); DONOVAN’S ECHO (opposite Danny Glover and Bruce Greenwood); IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER (Leo nomination); RANDOM ACTS OF ROMANCE (Leo nomination), COLE (for which she received both a Genie and a Leo nomination); and YOUNG PEOPLE FUCKING, for which she won the Vancouver Film Critics Circle award for ‘Best Supporting Actress’.

In 2010, Sonja decided to apply some of what she learned from ten years making films in front of the camera to and took up screenwriting. Her first screenplay, CHRISTMAS IS FOR CATS, was awarded an honorable mention in the Praxis feature film screenplay competition. PREGGOLAND, Sonja’s second script was supported by Movie Central, Telefilm Canada and was selected for the Telefilm/CFC Comedy Exchange.

The film had a theatrical release with James Caan and Danny Trejo in lead roles opposite Sonja. Preggoland premiered as a special presentation at TIFF, was awarded “Most Popular Film” at VIFF, was nominated for “Best BC Film” by the Vancouver Film Critics Circle, won “Most Popular Film” at the Omaha film festival and “Best Screenplay” at the Fargo film festival as well as receiving Leo nominations for Best Actress, Best Screenplay, and Best Film.

Since then, Sonja has continued acting, most notably on GHOST WARS, MISTRESSES, CHARMED, LAW AND ORDER TORONTO: CRIMINAL INTENT, ANDROID EMPLOYED (Leo nomination for best actor in a comedy) and the film KAYAK TO KLEMTU (Leo win for best supporting actress in a feature film.)

Sonja has written on several television shows KIM’S CONVENIENCE for CBC (Winner: Leo, Best Screenwriting in a Comedy), GHOST WARS for Netflix and LETTERKENNY for Crave/Hulu (Nominated: Writers Guild of Canada Award, Winner: Leo, Best Screenwriting in a Comedy in 2019, 2021, and 2024), THE MURDERS and HUDSON AND REX for Rogers and FAMILY LAW for Global (Nominated: Writers Guild of Canada Award, Three time Nominee: Leo, Best Screenwriting in a Drama, Winner in 2023).

As a playwright, Sonja co-wrote THE MOTHERLOAD for the Cultch, which has toured in several cities. In 2021, she adapted ALICE IN WONDERLAND into a pantomime for the Cultch. The following year, she adapted THE LITTLE MERMAID. It had a seven-week sold out run at the York Theatre.