Verona, a character in the 2004 action horror film Van Helsing, marked a significant professional milestone for Silvia Colloca, leading to both a career in English-language film and a meeting with her husband, actor Richard Roxburgh. Beyond the screen, her professional life spans opera, culinary media, and the publication of multiple cookbooks.
Early Training and Performance
Born in Milan in 1977, Colloca pursued formal education in the performing arts. She attended Centro Teatro Attivo from 1997 to 2000 for acting, followed by dance training at the Étoile Ballet Theatre between 1999 and 2001. Her foundational development concluded with four years of study as an actress and opera singer at the Scuola Musicale in Milan, ending in 2004. As a mezzo-soprano, she performed at venues including the London Palladium, Berlin’s Tempodrom, and the Teatro Nazionale.
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Following her role in Van Helsing, Colloca appeared in a string of films including The Detonator, Virgin Territory, and the British horror-comedy Lesbian Vampire Killers. Her Australian television credits include guest roles in Packed to the Rafters, Cops L.A.C., and Rake. She also appeared in the 2013 thriller Nerve and the 2021 drama Little Tornadoes. In 2022, she joined the cast of the drama series The Twelve, followed by roles in 2023 comedies Wellmania and C*A*U*G*H*T, and the 2024 film Sting.
Culinary Writing and Broadcasting
Colloca shifted toward culinary projects after her acting work slowed, establishing a recipe blog that evolved into the 2013 book Silvia’s Cucina. Her television work in the sector includes Made in Italy with Silvia Colloca, the reality series Silvia's Italian Table, and the multi-season SBS Food program Cook Like an Italian. Most recently, she launched the series Silvia's Italian Masterclass and collaborated with Essteele Cookware on her own kitchen line, Per Silvia.
Musical Achievements
In 2015, Colloca performed as Orfeo in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice in Sydney and portrayed The Queen in a production of Snow White. Her 2022 album, Sing Like an Italian, reached number one on the ARIA Core Classical and Classical/Crossover charts, remaining at the top of the classical rankings for over 20 weeks. That year, she also performed alongside Andrea Bocelli during his Sydney concert series.
Fast facts
- Born: 1977, Milan
- Citizenship: Australia
- Education: Centro Teatro Attivo, Étoile Ballet Theatre, Scuola Musicale
- Marriage: Richard Roxburgh, 25 September 2004
- Naturalized: July 2013
- Major TV projects: Made in Italy, Silvia's Italian Table, Cook Like an Italian
- Album: Sing Like an Italian, released 2022
- Cookware line: Per Silvia
Questions readers ask
What is Silvia Colloca’s primary profession?
She maintains a multifaceted career as an actor, television presenter, mezzo-soprano opera singer, and cookbook author.
When did she become an Australian citizen?
She became an Australian citizen in July 2013.
Achievements
- Instruments: voice
