Nia Vardalos was born Antonia Eugenia Vardalos on September 24, 1962, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Named after her two grandmothers and affectionately nicknamed “Nia,” she was raised in the Greek Orthodox Church. Vardalos attended both St. George School and Shaftesbury High School in Winnipeg before studying acting at Ryerson University in Toronto, which is now known as Toronto Metropolitan University.

In April 1999, she officially became a citizen of the United States, solidifying her connection to both countries as a Greek Canadian-American.

Family Background

Nia was raised by her Greek immigrant parents, Constantine “Gus” Vardalos, a land developer, and Doreen Vardalos, a bookkeeper. Though not wealthy, her family was nurturing and supportive. Her parents recognized her passion for performance early on, believing in her future as an actress from the age of six.

Her budding talent was evident when she began performing at Rainbow Stage, a prominent musical theatre in Winnipeg. Her career soon took her to Chicago, where she became a performer with the renowned improvisational comedy group The Second City. During her time there, she met fellow actor Ian Gomez. The couple married on September 5, 1993.

Rise to Fame with My Big Fat Greek Wedding

After their marriage, Nia and Ian moved to Los Angeles, where they pursued careers in television with modest roles. It was during this time that Nia began writing what would become her breakout project, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Inspired by her personal experiences with family and marriage, she wrote the first draft of the screenplay in just two weeks.

The story, initially performed as a one-woman stage play, caught the attention of actress and producer Rita Wilson. Her husband, Tom Hanks, subsequently attended a performance, leading their production company, Playtone, to develop it into a feature film. The 2002 romantic comedy became an unexpected box office success and remains one of the highest-grossing independent films of all time. Nia both wrote and starred in the film, earning critical acclaim and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

In 2009, she expanded her creative portfolio by directing the romantic comedy I Hate Valentine’s Day, demonstrating her versatility as a filmmaker.