Nia Vardalos

Vardalos in 2010, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Antonia Eugenia Vardalos

Place of Birth: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Date of Birth: September 24, 1962

Ethnicity: Greek

Nia Vardalos is a Canadian-American actress, screenwriter, director, and producer. After making her acting debut in 1996, she starred in and wrote 2002’s My Big Fat Greek Wedding, one of the most profitable films of all time relative to budget. She has also starred in the films Connie and Carla, which she also wrote; My Life in Ruins, I Hate Valentine’s Day, which she directed and wrote; For a Good Time, Call…, An American Girl: McKenna Shoots for the Stars, Dealin’ with Idiots, Helicopter Mom, Car Dogs, The Curse of Bridge Hollow, and the My Big Fat Greek Wedding sequels; she wrote the first sequel (2016), and directed and wrote the second sequel (2023). She also narrated the documentary Greece: Secrets of the Past, and has had voice roles in the films Larry Crowne, which she co-wrote, Charming (2018), and Wonder Woman: Bloodlines, and on the shows Team Knight Rider and Star vs. the Forces of Evil.

Nia was born in Winnipeg, to Doreen, a bookkeeper, and Constantine “Gus” Vardalos, who worked in business. Her father was born in Kalavryta, Greece. Her mother was also of Greek origin. She was raised in Canada, and eventually moved to the U.S., becoming a U.S. citizen in 1999. She has a daughter, who is adopted, with her former husband, American actor Ian Gomez. Nia and Ian co-presented The Great American Baking Show.

Nia was named after her grandmothers, Eugenia and Antonia.