Gia Carides
Encyclopedia
Gia Carides is an Australian actress. She is best known for her portrayals of Liz Holt in Strictly Ballroom
, Susy Connor in Brilliant Lies
, and Cousin Nikki in My Big Fat Greek Wedding
.
, while also having acclaim for her films Strictly Ballroom
and Brilliant Lies
, receiving AFI Award nominations for each.
She is best known for her roles as Robin Spitz/Swallows in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
and as Cousin Nikki in My Big Fat Greek Wedding
and the sequel television show My Big Fat Greek Life
.
Carides works in both America and Australia, credited with a host of film and television credits including Primary Colors, Year One
and East of Everything
. She's also appeared in a guest spot of husband Anthony LaPaglia's television series Without A Trace
.
She has volunteered as an actress with the Young Storytellers Program
. Gia is active in fundraising for building schools in Africa and Ethiopia with Save The Children.
, whom she met in Sydney
in 1992. A year later they starred in the film Paperback Romance (a.k.a. Lucky Break). She and LaPaglia are the parents of daughter Bridget (born in 2003). Gia Carides is sister to Zoe Carides
, also an actress,and Danielle Carides, singer songwriter. Her brother in-law meanwhile is doctor-turned-actor Jonathan LaPaglia
(from New York Undercover
).
Burning Man 2011 feature film
Carol
Smalltime Gangsters episodes 1–8
role Darlene
Strictly Ballroom
Strictly Ballroom is a 1992 Australian romantic comedy film directed and co-written by Baz Luhrmann and produced by M&A Productions. The film is the first installment in The Red Curtain Trilogy, Luhrmann's trilogy of theatre-motif-related films; the follow-ups were Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge!...
, Susy Connor in Brilliant Lies
Brilliant Lies
Brilliant Lies is an Australian film released in 1996, produced by Bayside Pictures and Beyond Films.Directed by Richard Franklin.Produced by Sue Farrelly, Kim McKillop and Richard Franklin....
, and Cousin Nikki in My Big Fat Greek Wedding
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a 2002 Canadian and American romantic comedy film written by and starring Nia Vardalos and directed by Joel Zwick. The film is centered on Fotoula "Toula" Portokalos , a middle class Greek American woman who falls in love with a non-Greek upper middle class "White...
.
Early life
Carides was born in Sydney, Australia, to a Greek father and an English mother. She began acting at the age of 12. Her first film was a hard hitting drama starring alongside Bryan Brown and Kris Macquade.Career
Early in her career, Carides starred as 'Helena Angelopolous' on the Australian television series Police RescuePolice Rescue
Police Rescue was an Australian television series which originally aired on ABC TV between 1989 and 1996. It was produced by ABC and Southern Star Xanadu in association with the BBC....
, while also having acclaim for her films Strictly Ballroom
Strictly Ballroom
Strictly Ballroom is a 1992 Australian romantic comedy film directed and co-written by Baz Luhrmann and produced by M&A Productions. The film is the first installment in The Red Curtain Trilogy, Luhrmann's trilogy of theatre-motif-related films; the follow-ups were Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge!...
and Brilliant Lies
Brilliant Lies
Brilliant Lies is an Australian film released in 1996, produced by Bayside Pictures and Beyond Films.Directed by Richard Franklin.Produced by Sue Farrelly, Kim McKillop and Richard Franklin....
, receiving AFI Award nominations for each.
She is best known for her roles as Robin Spitz/Swallows in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, released in 1999, is the second film in the Austin Powers series that began with 1997's Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and continued with Austin Powers in Goldmember. The film was directed by Jay Roach, co-written by Mike Myers and screenwriter...
and as Cousin Nikki in My Big Fat Greek Wedding
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a 2002 Canadian and American romantic comedy film written by and starring Nia Vardalos and directed by Joel Zwick. The film is centered on Fotoula "Toula" Portokalos , a middle class Greek American woman who falls in love with a non-Greek upper middle class "White...
and the sequel television show My Big Fat Greek Life
My Big Fat Greek Life
My Big Fat Greek Life is a situation comedy series that ran on CBS in 2003. The series is a continuation on the 2002 movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding and was produced by HBO Television and Tom Hanks' Playtone Productions for Sony Pictures Television....
.
Carides works in both America and Australia, credited with a host of film and television credits including Primary Colors, Year One
Year One
The term "Year One" in political history usually refers to the institution of radical, revolutionary change. This usage dates from the time of the French Revolution: after the abolition of the French monarchy , the National Convention instituted the new French Revolutionary Calendar, declaring that...
and East of Everything
East of Everything
East of Everything is an Australian drama television series which began screening on 30 March 2008 on the ABC. It is produced by Deborah Cox , Fiona Eagger and Roger Monk...
. She's also appeared in a guest spot of husband Anthony LaPaglia's television series Without A Trace
Without a Trace
Without a Trace is an American television drama which originally ran on CBS from September 26, 2002 to May 19, 2009. The series was set in New York City and concerned a fictitious FBI Missing Persons Unit.-Premise:...
.
She has volunteered as an actress with the Young Storytellers Program
Young storytellers program
The Young Storytellers Foundation is dedicated to developing literacy, self-expression and self-esteem in elementary school children. The Young Storytellers Program currently serves elementary school students in Southern California, including the cities of Los Angeles, Culver City, Santa Monica,...
. Gia is active in fundraising for building schools in Africa and Ethiopia with Save The Children.
Personal life
Carides is married to actor Anthony LaPagliaAnthony LaPaglia
Anthony M. LaPaglia is an Australian actor. He is known for his role as FBI agent Jack Malone on the American TV series Without a Trace, for which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama...
, whom she met in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 1992. A year later they starred in the film Paperback Romance (a.k.a. Lucky Break). She and LaPaglia are the parents of daughter Bridget (born in 2003). Gia Carides is sister to Zoe Carides
Zoe Carides
Zoe Carides is an Australian film and television actress who is best known for her roles in the television series G. P. as Dr. Sonia Kapek and Grass Roots as Liz Murray. Carides was born in Sydney, Australia.-Family:...
, also an actress,and Danielle Carides, singer songwriter. Her brother in-law meanwhile is doctor-turned-actor Jonathan LaPaglia
Jonathan LaPaglia
Dr. Jonathan LaPaglia, M.B.B.S. is an Australian actor known for his roles as Frank B. Parker in the television series Seven Days, Kevin Debreno in The District and Det...
(from New York Undercover
New York Undercover
New York Undercover is an American police drama that aired on the FOX television network from 1994 to 1998. The series starred Malik Yoba as Detective J.C. Williams and Michael DeLorenzo as Detective Eddie Torres, two undercover detectives in New York City's 4th Precinct who were assigned to...
).
Selected Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Bliss Bliss (1985 film) Bliss is a 1985 Australian film directed by Ray Lawrence, co-adapted by Lawrence and Peter Carey, author of the original novel Bliss from which it is adapted.... |
Lucy Joy | |
| 1986 | Backlash Backlash (1986 film) Backlash is a 1986 Australian film directed by Bill Bennett. Police officers Trevor Darling and Nikki Iceton escort a young Aboriginal woman Kath to the New South Wales outback to stand trial. After getting stranded in the desert a bond grows between them. By the time they are rescued, both... |
Nikki Iceton | |
| 1991 | The Girl Who Came Late The Girl Who Came Late The Girl Who Came Late aka Daydream Believer is a 1991 Australian romantic comedy film starring Miranda Otto, Martin Kemp and Gia Carides; and directed by Kathy Mueller. Otto was nominated for an Australian Film Institute Award for "Best Actress in a Lead Role"... |
Wendy | |
| 1992 | Strictly Ballroom Strictly Ballroom Strictly Ballroom is a 1992 Australian romantic comedy film directed and co-written by Baz Luhrmann and produced by M&A Productions. The film is the first installment in The Red Curtain Trilogy, Luhrmann's trilogy of theatre-motif-related films; the follow-ups were Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge!... |
Liz Holt | Nominated – Australian Film Institute Award for Best Supporting Actress Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role The Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role is an award in the annual Australian Film Institute Awards. It has been awarded annually since 1976.-Previous winners:*1976: Melissa Jaffer – Caddie... |
| 1994 | Paperback Romance (a.k.a. Lucky Break) | Sophie | |
| 1995 | Bad Company Bad Company (1995 film) Bad Company is a 1995 neo-noir thriller film directed by Damian Harris and written by Ross Thomas.The film stars Ellen Barkin and Laurence Fishburne as former CIA operatives engaging in a dubious romance while plotting to murder their boss, played by Frank Langella, and take over his firm, which... |
Julie Ames | Hollywood film debut |
| 1996 | Brilliant Lies Brilliant Lies Brilliant Lies is an Australian film released in 1996, produced by Bayside Pictures and Beyond Films.Directed by Richard Franklin.Produced by Sue Farrelly, Kim McKillop and Richard Franklin.... |
Susy Connor | Nominated – Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role The Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role is an award presented annually at the Australian Film Institute Awards. The award has been presented annually since 1971.-History:... |
| 1997 | ER ER (TV series) ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television... (TV), 1 episode |
Suzanne Alner | Episode titled "You Bet Your Life" |
| Lifebreath | Gale Pullman | ||
| 1998 | Primary Colors | Cashmere McLeod | |
| Letters from a Killer Letters from a Killer Letters from a Killer is a 1998 film about a man who is falsely convicted of the murder of his wife. During his time in jail, he finds comfort from four women with whom he corresponds... |
Lita | co-starred with Patrick Swayze Patrick Swayze Patrick Wayne Swayze was an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. He was best known for his tough-guy roles, as romantic leading men in the hit films Dirty Dancing and Ghost, and as Orry Main in the North and South television miniseries. He was named by People magazine as its "Sexiest... |
|
| 1999 | Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, released in 1999, is the second film in the Austin Powers series that began with 1997's Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and continued with Austin Powers in Goldmember. The film was directed by Jay Roach, co-written by Mike Myers and screenwriter... |
Robin Swallows | |
| 2000 | Maze Maze (film) Maze is a 2000 romance film about a New York painter and sculptor—Lyle Maze —with Tourette syndrome and obsessive–compulsive disorder , who falls in love with Callie , the pregnant girlfriend of Maze’s best friend Mike while Mike is away on a long stay in Africa as a doctor.-Development:After... |
Julianne | |
| 2001 | Thank Heaven | Cybil | |
| 2002 | My Big Fat Greek Wedding My Big Fat Greek Wedding My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a 2002 Canadian and American romantic comedy film written by and starring Nia Vardalos and directed by Joel Zwick. The film is centered on Fotoula "Toula" Portokalos , a middle class Greek American woman who falls in love with a non-Greek upper middle class "White... |
Cousin Nikki | |
| 2003 | My Big Fat Greek Life My Big Fat Greek Life My Big Fat Greek Life is a situation comedy series that ran on CBS in 2003. The series is a continuation on the 2002 movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding and was produced by HBO Television and Tom Hanks' Playtone Productions for Sony Pictures Television.... (TV) |
Nikki | Appeared in all 7 episodes |
| Exposed Exposed (film) Exposed is a 2003 American independent comedy film starring Brenda Strong, Lumi Cavazos, Gia Carides, Tate Donovan and Missi Pyle.Bob Smith , the host of the scandalous news show "Probe", launches an investigation to dig up dirt on three popular television celebrities who are up for a "Woman of... |
Jade Blake | ||
| 2005 | Without A Trace (TV), 1 episode | Stephanie Patterson | |
| One Last Thing... One Last Thing... One Last Thing... is a 2006 comedy-drama film produced by HDNet Films and released by Magnolia Pictures. It was screened at the Toronto Film Festival on September 12, 2005 and had a limited release in the United States on May 5, 2006... |
Madelene | ||
| 2006 | Stick It Stick It Stick It is an American teen comedy-drama film starring Jeff Bridges, Missy Peregrym, and Vanessa Lengies. It was written and directed by Jessica Bendinger, writer of Bring It On; the film marks her directorial debut... |
Alice Graham | |
| 2008–2009 | East of Everything East of Everything East of Everything is an Australian drama television series which began screening on 30 March 2008 on the ABC. It is produced by Deborah Cox , Fiona Eagger and Roger Monk... (TV), 10 episodes |
Melanie Freedman | |
| 2009 | Year One | Queen |
Carol
Smalltime Gangsters episodes 1–8
role Darlene
External links
- Gia Carides – Australian Film Commission
- Mook-e Australian Actresses