Stephania Sanquiz Donelli

Stephania Gabriella Sanquiz Donelli is a Venezuelan-born Actor, Singer, Dancer, and animal advocate whose artistic journey spans television, film, musical theatre, music, and the preservation of nature and animals. Born on December 9 in Caracas, Venezuela, Stephania was raised by her mother, Gabriela Donelli, a widowed mother, dancer, pharmacist, and fitness instructor. She grew up in a Catholic Italian family in Coro, Falcón, where her passion for the performing arts emerged at an early age. At 17, driven by her soul’s deep desire to become an artist, she moved to Caracas to pursue her calling professionally. In Caracas, Stephania first gained public attention through a memorable and controversial audition for the televised singing competition Fame, Sweat and Tears, which placed her among the final eight contestants. Following this experience, she was awarded a scholarship to study Acting for Film at RCTV (Radio Caracas Televisión), one of Venezuela’s most prominent television networks at the time. Her professional career began soon afterward, with appearances in Venezuelan television productions and telenovelas, including Mi Prima Ciela. Her time at RCTV came to an end when the network was shut down by the Venezuelan government following its coverage and reporting that exposed the realities of the country’s increasingly authoritarian government and dictatorship. The closure marked a profound turning point for Stephania and for Venezuelan media, ultimately contributing to her decision to leave the country in search of artistic and personal freedom. Fleeing the dictatorship in Venezuela and seeking the artistic freedom she could no longer find at home, Stephania moved to New York City, the place she had always dreamed of living. There, she was awarded a scholarship to attend the New York Film Academy, where she completed a two-year conservatory program in Musical Theatre and Acting for Film. Her career in New York expanded across stage, film, and music. She starred as Holly in the Off-Broadway musical The Wedding Singer at Connelly Theater in Manhattan’s East Village. She also worked in short films and movie musicals, including StartUp.com, while simultaneously developing her career as a songwriter and independent recording artist. As a singer and songwriter, Stephania wrote and independently promoted her debut single, “Magic Is Here.” The song reached No. 1 on the Top Latino chart of Venezuela’s official Billboard Record Report, marking a significant milestone in her music career. Its accompanying music video subsequently became one of the most popular videos featured on HTV Música. Stephania later portrayed Rita in Marriage Material, an Academy Award-nominated movie musical and a landmark production recognized as the first movie musical in the history of the American Film Institute. In 2008, Stephania traveled to India, where she immersed herself in the study and practice of yoga and meditation. The experience profoundly influenced her personal and artistic evolution and eventually led her to embrace the path of a Yogini. Now based in Los Angeles, California, Stephania continues to pursue her lifelong dream of creating films in Hollywood. Alongside her artistic career, she is devoted to raising awareness about the preservation of nature and the protection of animals, while also sharing her knowledge and practice of yoga and meditation. She continues to create music independently, develop her own creative projects, and audition for film and television roles, remaining devoted to the dream that first inspired her at 17: to tell stories, create art, and leave a meaningful mark on the world through cinema, music, and her devotion to the natural world.