Sonya Cooke is a multifaceted performer, boasting an impressive range of experience in film, television, and theatre. As a member of SAG-AFTRA and EMC candidate, she has had the privilege of working on various projects, including network television, independent films, regional and New York theatre productions, musical premieres, commercials, and voice-over credits.
In recent years, Sonya has made notable appearances on Bonneville on AppleTV and Chicago PD on NBC, as well as taking on the title role in Gloria by Brendan Jacobs-Jenkins at Equity theatre, Swine Palace. She has also had the opportunity to join the acting company of New Swan Shakespeare Festival, where she played the title role in Julius Caesar, among other roles.
Sonya's impressive career highlights include her work on Warner Brother's Godzilla: Fathom, Louie on FX, and her portrayal of the title role in the feature film Lily Grace. In addition to her on-screen accomplishments, Sonya is also a respected educator, serving as an Assistant Professor of Acting and Head of Undergraduate Performance at Louisiana State University's School of Theatre.
As a founder and author of the book Seven Pillars Acting, Sonya has established herself as a leading expert in her field. She has opened and run Seven Pillars Acting Studio: Los Angeles and has been the owner of Actor's Studio of Orange County for over a decade. Currently, she teaches at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, and she leads the Teacher Certification Program for Seven Pillars Acting.
Sonya's book, Seven Pillars Acting, has become the go-to textbook for students of the technique, as well as being adopted by a growing number of universities and institutions across the country. Her academic background includes an MFA in Acting from UC-Irvine's Claire Trevor School of the Arts, as well as a BFA in Drama from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.
