Antonia Eugenia "Nia" Vardalos (born September 24, 1962) is a Canadian-born American actress, screenwriter, director, and producer of Greek descent. She is best known for starring & co-writing the 2002 film My Big Fat Greek Wedding; a film based on a one-woman stage play she dramatized and starred in. She also starred, created & produced its short-lived TV spinoff My Big Fat Greek Life and recent sequel My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2.