Rhea, Mother of the Olympians
Rhea, the daughter of Uranus and Gaea, was the mother of the Olympian Gods Demeter, Hades, Hera, Hestia, Poseidon and Zeus. She may have also been the mother of Dactyli and the Corybantes. She was the sister of the Titans, and married her brother Cronos. Rhea hid Zeus from Cronos, by giving him a stone wrapped in a blanket, after he had swallowed his other children to avoid a prophecy of his own demise. When Zeus was full-grown, he did indeed fufill the Oracles prediction, by overthrowing Cronos and killing him with his own rib.
Rhea was also known by the names Idaea (born on Mt. Ida), Bona Dea, Magna Mater, Ops, Opis, Tellus and Terra (all of these are Roman names, identifying her with the earth), Cybele (to the Phrygians) and Titaea.
Rhea Today
Rhea was played on Xena by Sonia Gray and Joy Van Uden
Sonia Gray is 5'8" and studied at the Maggie Tarver Acting Workshop, Voice Training for Television with David England. She also has taken private Ballet and Modern Dance lessons for ten years. Sonia has done voiceovers in both American and Australian accents. She has worked as both a catwalk and photographic model. She also enjoys most sports including Running, Athletics and Swimming.
The 5'2" Joy Van Uden is a fluent Filipino speaker who enjoys singing, dance, and most sports including Volleyball and Swimming
The Rhea Episodes
Xena: Warrior Princess
Season One: Ties That Bind, a woman named Rhea, played by Sonia Gray
Season Five: Kindred Spirits, an Amazon named Rhea, played by Joy Van Uden
Sonia Gray's Filmography
1999-2000 Shortland Street – South Pacific Pictures, as Aleesha – Major Guest role
2000 Jack of All Trades – Pacific Renaissance Pictures, as Daughters of the Dragoon
1999 Wella Fashion Reports (Presenter)
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, as Gorgeous Amazon, in the episode Love Amazom Style, season six
1998 Young Hercules – Pacific Renaissance Pictures (Character: Mila)
1998-1999 Sky TV Summer promo (Presenter)
Heartbreak High – Australian television series (Character: Guest role)
Jimmy Barnes music video (Lead)
Many and varied television commercials and campaigns including for Instant Kiwi, Cadbury, Visa, Caltex, Glassons, Cleo
Joy Van Uden's Filmography
1999 Hercules – Pacific Renaissance Pictures – Episode: 'Love Amazon Style', as Amazon #2
1995-1996 Miss Saigon, theatre production, member of Chorus
1994 Asia Dynamic (Featured Artist)
Sonia Gray Links
Shortland Street - Cast index has a few images, charcter bio and a video clip.
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Image of Sonia Gray courtesy Odd Management