Sonia Rao

Washington, D.C.

Features reporter

Education: Boston University, BS in journalism

Sonia Rao is a reporter for The Washington Post's Style section, focusing on film and television. She attended Boston University and wrote for the Boston Globe before joining The Post in 2017.
Share confidential news tips with The Post
Latest from Sonia Rao

Why do people see psychics? She filmed a documentary to find out.

‘Look Into My Eyes’ director Lana Wilson says her documentary doesn’t examine the legitimacy of psychic readings, but why people are drawn to them at all.

September 11, 2024
A scene from “Look Into My Eyes,” by director Lana Wilson.

Bruce Springsteen documentary reveals wife Patti Scialfa’s illness

The movie, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, is the first public acknowledgment of Scialfa’s multiple myeloma.

September 9, 2024
Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa attend the Golden Globe Awards in January.

A24 wants to turn your baby into a film buff

A new book from the cool-kid indie film studio guides parents on the hits and niche movies to show their children.

September 4, 2024
An inside look at “Hey Kids, Watch This!” from A24's book imprint.

In a film about a father-daughter dance in prison, the girls take the lead

The heart-wrenching new Netflix documentary “Daughters” could be an effective “tool for change,” its directors say.

August 13, 2024
Aubrey hugs her father, Keith, in the documentary “Daughters.”

The twisters in ‘Twisters’ are terrifying. How’d they do it?

The “Twisters” team hurled an actual horse trailer, animated scientifically accurate tornadoes and had to stop filming when a real-life storm wrecked a set.

August 8, 2024
Powell’s Tyler grabs Sasha Lane’s Lily as a tornado approaches a movie theater.

It’s the summer of the tomato (cocktail)

Bartenders around D.C. are thinking beyond the Bloody Mary. Hallelujah!

August 5, 2024

Everyone knows Glen Powell is the next big movie star. Right?

He’s been hailed as the next McConaughey. He considers Cruise a mentor. Glen Powell is primed for the A-list, but he isn’t taking anything for granted.

July 16, 2024

Necessity drives innovation — and great coffee — at Tonari Cafe

The chef behind Chinatown’s Japanese-Italian restaurant Tonari wanted more daytime business, so he started whipping up French toast, egg sandwiches and specialty coffee.

July 9, 2024
Chef Katsuya Fukushima prepares French toast at Tonari Cafe.

‘Janet Planet’ came from another world: Western Massachusetts

Director Annie Baker and star Julianne Nicholson grew up in the region. Their new film, “Janet Planet,” embraces its funky, overgrown normal.

July 1, 2024
Baker, left, and Nicholson realized they shared much in common from their respective childhoods in Western Massachusetts.

How June Squibb became an action hero at 94

“Thelma” marks the Oscar-nominated actress’s first leading role in a film. Squibb isn’t planning to retire anytime soon.

June 12, 2024
June Squibb, left, with Fred Hechinger in “Thelma.”