Nia Vardalos is a Canadian actress, screenwriter, producer, and director. She is best known for starring in and writing the romantic comedy film My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002), which garnered her nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical.
Vardalos was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, to Greek-Canadian parents. She studied theater at the University of Toronto and the Second City improv troupe in Chicago. She began her career as a stand-up comedian and appeared in several television shows, including The Drew Carey Show and Suddenly Susan.
In 2002, Vardalos wrote and starred in the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which was a huge commercial success. The film was based on her own experiences growing up in a Greek-American family. Vardalos won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Vardalos has since starred in several other films, including Connie and Carla (2004), I Hate Valentine’s Day (2009), and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016). She has also written and directed several films, including My Life in Ruins (2009) and Larry Crowne (2011).
Nia Vardalos Relationships: Who did Nia Vardalos date?
Nia Vardalos has been married to actor Ian Gomez since 1993. They have one daughter together, Ilaria. Before marrying Gomez, Vardalos dated several other people, including:
John Corbett, who played her love interest in My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Andy Richter, a comedian, and actor
Adam Goldberg, an actor
John Leguizamo, an actor and comedian
Vardalos has said that she is a private person and prefers to keep her personal life out of the public eye. However, she has spoken openly about her experiences with adoption and her relationship with her daughter.
In 2018, Vardalos and Gomez announced that they were separating after 25 years of marriage. The couple said that they had been separated for some time and that the decision to divorce was amicable. They have not yet finalized their divorce.