Ex WWE star wraps first film role after shock exit and Invicta move
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Former WWE superstar Sonya Deville has revealed she's finished work on her first movie role.
The 31-year-old ex-Raw and SmackDown star, who will make her commentary debut tonight at women's mixed martial arts event Invicta FC 62 under her real name Daria Berenato, is exploring all her options after her WWE contract wasn't renewed earlier this year.
She exclusively told Metro: 'I always say to my wife [Toni], she hates the saying, but I'm always like, 'the world is our oyster', because that's truly how I feel and how I've always felt.
'I feel like manifestation is key, and anything you put your mind to, anything you can think of, you can do.
'So yeah, acting is something that I'm actively pursuing, and I've just wrapped a movie a couple weeks ago, so that'll be coming out soon. So that's fun. [I'm] taking it day by day.'
When it comes to giving any more details, Daria insisted she's 'not allowed to yet', but that there'll be more information 'when the time is right'.
However, the former WWE Women's Tag Team Champion did offer a hint of the kind of roles she could take on given her own tastes.
'I love thrillers. I love action thrillers, psychological thrillers. I'm a really big fan of series,' she smiled. 'I like Breacher, I like Tracker, shows like that that I can kind of follow along and get into the action with them.'
She feels like the work she did over a decade with WWE has shown her 'versatility and diversity', from her sports-based presentation and later a stint as General Manager to the work she did as part of Mandy Rose, Otis and Dolph Ziggler's love triangle.
'I'm kind of excited to put some of those skills to use now, hopefully this Friday night,' she added with a nod to her Invicta commentary debut tonight.
Daria is 'surprised' by the way her life changed, admitting she didn't expect WWE not to renew her contract before it expired in February – but her reaction might surprise people.
'It was almost like an immediate sigh of relief. Because when you're there, you're in that world, it's so competitive, and you're always having the looming [thought], 'When is the day going to come?' Not if, because everyone at some point gets let go or leaves,' she pointed out.
'I had been there for a decade. My entire 20s were spent there from 21 to 31 so I really felt like I got to show what I can do, and I got to experience so many things, and I just left with gratitude. I was like, 'That was amazing. Chapter one's over. Now it's time for chapter two.' '
For that second chapter, Daria is going back to her MMA roots after talks with Shannon Knapp had her sold on being part of a promotion she first watched at shows over a decade ago.
'As I was fighting MMA, and kind of trying to blaze my own path in the sport, I always dreamed of fighting at Invictus,' she beamed. 'It's a very full circle moment.'
Daria was 'really devastated' when she left the MMA world behind for reality show WWE Tough Enough in 2015, which led to her contract with the sports entertainment giant.
After feeling like she was in a 'time warp for 10 years' laser-focused on that career, Daria is delighted to be heading back.
'[MMA] was kind of my identity at the time,' she reflected. 'That's why I feel like this moment, joining Invicta on the commentary team, is so special, and it's somewhere so deep in my heart.'
That's not to say she's closed the door on pro wrestling, and she's well aware that people will make connections between Invicta and WWE partner TNA, given they both fall under the Anthem banner.
'There's definitely something about [TNA] that intrigues me. I'm not blind to the fact that the same company owns Invicta and TNA,' she quipped.
'I will just say, I think the best is yet to come. So we will see. I don't have answers right now to give you, but I think that there's conversations to be had.' More Trending
Whether it's MMA or pro wrestling – or even the Unwrapped podcast with her wife Toni – Daria is leaving all doors open and staying open minded.
'I feel like the best is yet to come for me. I feel like in every aspect, I'm better than I've ever been. My body feels great, I feel more athletic than I was in my 20s,' she said.
'Maybe I'm a late bloomer, I don't know, but I just feel better than I've ever felt. And I feel like the options are endless, but I'm really enjoying what I'm doing right now.'
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Invicta FC 62 airs live at 1am via YouTube PPV.
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