Married NY-born TV actor Ian Gomez in Winnipeg's St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church.
Her one-woman play My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002), was turned into a movie after Rita Wilson saw the play and recommended it to her husband Tom Hanks.
Nia Vardalos Detailed Biography
Born in Winnipeg, Canada, Nia earned her degree in Theater from Ryerson in Toronto. She pursued her desire to act at the Second City Theater in Toronto, where she seized— what would ultimately become —her life-changing break. Her stage talents have led to appearances in the feature films Meet Prince Charming (1999) and Men Seeking Women (1997), and in television shows, including “Boy Meets World” and “The Drew Carey Show.” But it was her one-person (playing 12 parts) show, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” that has made her an actor of mention in casting circles and executive lunches. The success of the play has led to the feature film and a sitcom pilot episode for CBS television. Her story is life imitating art imitating life. The narrative of her personal experience unfolds like a movie based on events that are too fantastic to be true, yet too real to not make for fascinating storytelling. Confusing? Let’s just say that Nia’s upcoming film, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, is as good a realization of one’s artistic dreams as any Hollywood story.
With Rita Wilson (of Greek heritage) and Tom Hanks producing for Hanks’ company, Playtone, and IFC distributing, the film tells the story of a Greek woman who falls hopelessly in love with a non-Greek man. Well, Nia tells the story best.
