Nia Vardalos
Encyclopedia
Antonia Eugenia "Nia" Vardalos (born September 24, 1962) is a Canadian-American actress, screenwriter, director, singer and producer. Her most notable work is the 2002 Academy Award–nominated film My Big Fat Greek Wedding
.
, Manitoba. She is the daughter of Greek Canadian
parents Doreen, a bookkeeper and homemaker, and Constantine "Gus" Vardalos, a land developer. She attended Shaftesbury High School
and Ryerson University
. Vardalos married actor Ian Gomez
on September 5, 1993 (her husband converted to her Greek Orthodox
religion prior to marrying her). In 2008, they adopted a daughter, and she wrote a post with advice about the adoption process at The Huffington Post
. She became a citizen of the U.S. in 1999.
and Two Guys and a Girl
. She gained overnight success with her movie about a woman's struggle to find love in My Big Fat Greek Wedding
, which was based on a one-woman show Vardalos had previously written and starred in. This sleeper hit, which quickly became one of the highest-grossing independent films of all time, led to the unsuccessful CBS
spin-off series, My Big Fat Greek Life
. The show was cancelled after seven episodes and featured the entire cast from the film, excluding John Corbett who was working on his own show, Lucky
.
Her next film, released in 2004, was Connie and Carla
, a musical about two women pretending to be drag queens. It also featured Toni Collette
, David Duchovny
and Debbie Reynolds
.
Vardalos made her directing debut in 2009 with the independent feature I Hate Valentine's Day
. The film, about a florist finding romance, received only a limited release and was a massive box-office failure. This was followed by the critically panned work, My Life in Ruins
, about a misguided tour-guide travelling around Greece and featuring Academy Award winner Richard Dreyfuss
. The film was the first American production given permission to film at the Acropolis
; Vardalos sought the approval from the Greek Government.
Vardalos is among many celebrities helping to produce The 1 Second Film
art project.
Vardalos was featured in The Dialogue interview series. In this 90 minute interview with producer Mike DeLuca, Vardalos talks about how her experiences in The Second City
comedy troupe helped her as an actress and a screenwriter, and how the unofficial "tell-the-Greek" word-of-mouth program had a hand in catapulting her movie to such great heights.
She performed The Beatles
song "Golden Slumbers
" on the 2006 charity album Unexpected Dreams – Songs From the Stars
.
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...
.
Personal life
Vardalos was born in WinnipegWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba. She is the daughter of Greek Canadian
Greek Canadians
Greek Canadians are Canadian citizens of Greek origin, also known as Hellenic origin. According to the 2006 Canadian census, there were 242,685 Canadians who claimed Greek ethnicity.- Authors :...
parents Doreen, a bookkeeper and homemaker, and Constantine "Gus" Vardalos, a land developer. She attended Shaftesbury High School
Shaftesbury High School
Shaftesbury High School is located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in Tuxedo neighbourhood. It has a population of 750 students who come from Charleswood, Linden Woods and Tuxedo.-Notable alumni:* Nia Vardalos - Actress* Steven Fletcher - Politician...
and Ryerson University
Ryerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
. Vardalos married actor Ian Gomez
Ian Gomez
Ian Gomez is an American actor best known for his comedic TV work, the most notable of which are his series-regular stints as Javier on Felicity and Andy on Cougar Town.-Career:...
on September 5, 1993 (her husband converted to her Greek Orthodox
Greek Orthodox Church
The Greek Orthodox Church is the body of several churches within the larger communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity sharing a common cultural tradition whose liturgy is also traditionally conducted in Koine Greek, the original language of the New Testament...
religion prior to marrying her). In 2008, they adopted a daughter, and she wrote a post with advice about the adoption process at The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
. She became a citizen of the U.S. in 1999.
Career
Vardalos had many small roles in television, most notably on The Drew Carey ShowThe Drew Carey Show
The Drew Carey Show is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from 1995 to 2004. The show was set in Cleveland, Ohio, and revolved around the retail office and home life of "everyman" Drew Carey, a fictionalized version of the actor....
and Two Guys and a Girl
Two Guys and a Girl
Two Guys and a Girl is an American sitcom created by Kenny Schwartz and Danny Jacobson. It ran on ABC from March 10, 1998 to May 16, 2001. 81 episodes were transmitted over four seasons....
. She gained overnight success with her movie about a woman's struggle to find love 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...
, which was based on a one-woman show Vardalos had previously written and starred in. This sleeper hit, which quickly became one of the highest-grossing independent films of all time, led to the unsuccessful CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
spin-off series, 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....
. The show was cancelled after seven episodes and featured the entire cast from the film, excluding John Corbett who was working on his own show, Lucky
Lucky (TV series)
Lucky is an American dark comedy television series which ran for one season on FX Networks in 2003. The show starred John Corbett as Michael "Lucky" Linkletter, a professional poker player and gambling addict. The series was created by Robb Cullen and Mark Cullen...
.
Her next film, released in 2004, was Connie and Carla
Connie and Carla
Connie and Carla is a 2004 American comedy film directed by Michael Lembeck and starring Nia Vardalos, Toni Collette, and David Duchovny.The film was shot in Vancouver and featured a number of local drag queens.-Plot:...
, a musical about two women pretending to be drag queens. It also featured Toni Collette
Toni Collette
Antonia "Toni" Collette is an Australian actress and musician, known for her acting work on stage, television and film as well as a secondary career as the lead singer of the band Toni Collette & the Finish....
, David Duchovny
David Duchovny
David William Duchovny is an American actor, writer and director. He has won Golden Globe awards for his work as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files and as Hank Moody on Californication.-Early life:...
and Debbie Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds is an American actress, singer, and dancer.She was initially signed at age 16 by Warner Bros., but her career got off to a slow start. When her contract was not renewed, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer gave her a small, but significant part in the film Three Little Words , then signed her to...
.
Vardalos made her directing debut in 2009 with the independent feature I Hate Valentine's Day
I Hate Valentine's Day
I Hate Valentine's Day is a 2009 romantic comedy film written and directed by Nia Vardalos. The film stars Vardalos and John Corbett, previously seen together in Vardalos' hit 2002 film My Big Fat Greek Wedding.-Plot:...
. The film, about a florist finding romance, received only a limited release and was a massive box-office failure. This was followed by the critically panned work, My Life in Ruins
My Life in Ruins
My Life in Ruins is a 2009 romantic comedy film set amongst the ruins of ancient Greece, starring Nia Vardalos, Richard Dreyfuss, Alexis Georgoulis, Rachel Dratch, Harland Williams and British comedy actor and impressionist Alistair McGowan...
, about a misguided tour-guide travelling around Greece and featuring Academy Award winner Richard Dreyfuss
Richard Dreyfuss
Richard Stephen Dreyfuss is an American actor best known for starring in a number of film, television, and theater roles since the late 1960s, including the films American Graffiti, Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Goodbye Girl, Whose Life Is It Anyway?, Stakeout, Always, What About...
. The film was the first American production given permission to film at the Acropolis
Acropolis
Acropolis means "high city" in Greek, literally city on the extremity and is usually translated into English as Citadel . For purposes of defense, early people naturally chose elevated ground to build a new settlement, frequently a hill with precipitous sides...
; Vardalos sought the approval from the Greek Government.
Vardalos is among many celebrities helping to produce The 1 Second Film
The 1 Second Film
The 1 Second Film is a non-profit collaborative art project being created by thousands of people around the world, including many celebrities....
art project.
Vardalos was featured in The Dialogue interview series. In this 90 minute interview with producer Mike DeLuca, Vardalos talks about how her experiences in The Second City
The Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
comedy troupe helped her as an actress and a screenwriter, and how the unofficial "tell-the-Greek" word-of-mouth program had a hand in catapulting her movie to such great heights.
She performed The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
song "Golden Slumbers
Golden Slumbers
"Golden Slumbers" is a song by The Beatles, part of the climactic medley on their 1969 album Abbey Road. The song begins the progression that leads to the end of the album and is followed by "Carry That Weight." The two songs were recorded together as a single piece, and both were written by Paul...
" on the 2006 charity album Unexpected Dreams – Songs From the Stars
Unexpected Dreams
Unexpected Dreams – Songs From the Stars is a 2006 compilation album featuring various actors singing lullabies and other songs.-Album information:...
.
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | No Experience Necessary | Sheila | |
| 1997 | Men Seeking Women | Iris | |
| 1999 | Meet Prince Charming | Jennifer | |
| 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... |
Toula Portokalos | also writer American Screenwriters Award Discover Screenwriting Award 2004 The 4th Discover Screenwriting Award, given by the American Screenwriters Association, honored the best screenwriter of 2004.Discover Screenwriting Award:*Paul Haggis - Million Dollar Baby**David Magee - Finding Neverland... – Discover Screenwriting award Nominated — Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay) Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay) The Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay is the Academy Award for the best script not based upon previously published material. Before 1940, there was an Academy Award for Best Story for writing. For 1940, it and the award in this article were separated into two awards. Beginning with the... Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
| 2004 | Connie and Carla Connie and Carla Connie and Carla is a 2004 American comedy film directed by Michael Lembeck and starring Nia Vardalos, Toni Collette, and David Duchovny.The film was shot in Vancouver and featured a number of local drag queens.-Plot:... |
Connie | also writer |
| 2009 | My Life in Ruins My Life in Ruins My Life in Ruins is a 2009 romantic comedy film set amongst the ruins of ancient Greece, starring Nia Vardalos, Richard Dreyfuss, Alexis Georgoulis, Rachel Dratch, Harland Williams and British comedy actor and impressionist Alistair McGowan... |
Georgia | |
| 2009 | I Hate Valentine's Day I Hate Valentine's Day I Hate Valentine's Day is a 2009 romantic comedy film written and directed by Nia Vardalos. The film stars Vardalos and John Corbett, previously seen together in Vardalos' hit 2002 film My Big Fat Greek Wedding.-Plot:... |
Genevieve | also writer and director |
| 2010 | |||
| 2011 | Larry Crowne Larry Crowne Larry Crowne is a 2011 American romantic comedy film starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. The film was directed by Hanks, who co-wrote its screenplay with Nia Vardalos... |
Map Genie (voice) | also writer |
| 2012 | Talk of the Town |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | High Incident High Incident High Incident is a police drama series produced by DreamWorks Television for the ABC network. The show was created by Steven Spielberg, Michael Pavone, Eric Bogosian and Dave Alan Johnson... |
uncredited | Episode: "Father Knows Best" |
| 1996 | Common Law | uncredited | Episode: "In the Matter of, Acceptance" |
| 1997 | Men Seeking Women | Iris | |
| 1997 | Grace Almada | Episode: "Strange Bedfellows" | |
| 1997–98 | Team Knight Rider Team Knight Rider Team Knight Rider is a syndicated television spin-off series of the Knight Rider franchise that ran between 1997 and 1998. TKR was created by writer/producers Rick Copp and David A. Goodman, based on the original series created by Glen A. Larson, who was an executive producer... |
Domino (voice) | 22 episodes |
| 1998–99 | Boy Meets World Boy Meets World Boy Meets World is an American comedy-drama series that chronicles the events and everyday life lessons of Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage, a kid from suburban Philadelphia who grows up from a young boy to a married man. The show aired for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000 on ABC, part of the... |
uncredited | Episodes: "You're Married, You're Dead" (1998) and "Can I Help to Cheer You" (1999) |
| 1999 | It's Like, You Know... It's Like, You Know... It's Like, You Know... was a short-lived American situation comedy television series broadcast by ABC, starring Jennifer Grey, Evan Handler, Steven Eckholdt, A.J. Langer and Chris Eigeman, about life in Los Angeles viewed through the eyes of a diehard New Yorker, Arthur Garment... |
Mindy | Episode: "Memories of Me" |
| 1999 | Two Guys and a Girl Two Guys and a Girl Two Guys and a Girl is an American sitcom created by Kenny Schwartz and Danny Jacobson. It ran on ABC from March 10, 1998 to May 16, 2001. 81 episodes were transmitted over four seasons.... |
Evelyn | Episode: "Career Day" |
| 2000 | Curb Your Enthusiasm Curb Your Enthusiasm Curb Your Enthusiasm is an American comedy television series produced and broadcast by HBO, which premiered on October 15, 2000. As of 2011, it has completed 80 episodes over eight seasons. The series was created by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself... |
Larry's Lawyer | Episode: "Interior Decorator" |
| 2002 | Saturday Night Live Saturday Night Live Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture... |
Host | |
| 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.... |
Nia Portokalos | Writer and executive producer; 7 episodes |
| 2008 | My Boys My Boys My Boys is an American television sitcom that debuted on November 28, 2006, on TBS. The show deals with a female sports columnist in Chicago, Illinois and the men in her life including her brother and her best friend... |
Jo | Episodes: "Spit Take," "Take My Work Wife...Please," and "Dudes Being Dudes" |
| 2009 | Drop Dead Diva Drop Dead Diva Drop Dead Diva is an American legal comedy-drama/fantasy television series that debuted on Lifetime on July 12, 2009. The hour-long series, which was created by Josh Berman, is produced by Sony Pictures Television... |
Lisa Shane | One episode |
| 2010 | Eileen | Pilot episode | |
| 2011 | Cougar Town Cougar Town Cougar Town is an American television sitcom that premiered on ABC on September 23, 2009. The series focuses on a recently divorced woman in her forties facing the often humorous challenges, pitfalls and rewards of life's next chapter, along with her son, ex-husband, and friends who together make... |
Andy's sister in law | One episode |