Melina Kanakaredes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melina Kanakaredes
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Kanakaredes in Ohio, 2009
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| Born | April 23, 1967 Akron, Ohio, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Point Park College (B.A., Theatre, 1989) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Peter Constantinides
(m. 1992) |
| Children | 2 |
Melina Kanakaredes (born April 23, 1967) is a Greek-American actress. She is famous for her leading roles in popular TV shows. Many people know her as Dr. Sydney Hansen in Providence or as Detective Stella Bonasera in the crime drama CSI: NY. She also got her start on the daytime show Guiding Light.
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Early Life and Education
Melina Kanakaredes was born in Akron, Ohio. Her parents are Connie and Harry Kanakaredes. She is a second-generation Greek-American, which means her grandparents moved to the U.S. from Greece. Melina can speak Greek fluently.
Her family has a sweet history! Her uncles run a candy store in Akron called Temo's Candy Company. Her grandfather, Christ Temo, started the chocolate shop.
Kanakaredes began acting when she was only eight years old. Her first role was in a play called Tom Sawyer. She later graduated from Firestone High School in Akron. After high school, she studied at Point Park College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater in 1989.
Acting Career
Television Star
Kanakaredes's first big role on TV was playing Eleni Andros Cooper on the show Guiding Light from 1991 to 1995. Her performance was so good that she was nominated for two Daytime Emmy Awards.
From 1999 to 2002, she starred as Dr. Sydney Hansen in the TV series Providence. This was one of her most famous roles.
Another major role was playing Detective Stella Bonasera on the popular show CSI: NY. She was a main character on the show for six seasons, from 2004 to 2010.
She has also appeared in many other TV shows, including NYPD Blue, The Practice, and The Resident. She also does voice acting for the animated series Blood of Zeus.
Movie Roles
Kanakaredes has also acted in several movies. She played the Greek goddess Athena in the 2010 movie Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.
In 2013, she starred in the action movie Snitch with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Some of her other films include The Long Kiss Goodnight and 15 Minutes.
She was offered the main role in the hit movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but she couldn't take the part because she was pregnant at the time.
Personal Life
Melina Kanakaredes married Peter Constantinides in 1992. They have two daughters, Zoe (born in 2000) and Karina Eleni (born in 2003).
Famous Roles
Film
- The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) as Trin
- 15 Minutes (2001) as Nicolette Karas
- Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010) as the goddess Athena
- Snitch (2013) as Sylvie Collins
Television
- Guiding Light (1991–1995) as Eleni Andros Cooper
- Providence (1999–2002) as Dr. Sydney Hansen
- CSI: NY (2004–2010) as Detective Stella Bonasera
- The Resident (2018) as Dr. Lane Hunter
- Blood of Zeus (2020) as the voice of Ariana
Awards
- In 2000, she won a TV Guide Award for Favorite Actress in a Drama for her role in Providence.
- She was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in 1994 for Guiding Light.
- She was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in 1995, also for Guiding Light.
See also
In Spanish: Melina Kanakaredes para niños
- List of Greek Americans
