Gia Carides : biography
Gia Carides (born 7 June 1964) is an Australian actress. She is best known for her portrayals of Liz Holt in Strictly Ballroom, Susy Connor in Brilliant Lies, and Cousin Nikki in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1977 | The|Love Letters from Teralba Road}} | Maureen | |
1983 | Midnite Spares | Ruth | |
1983 | Phar Lap | Emma | |
1984 | Annie’s Coming Out | Narrator | |
1985 | The|Coca-Cola Kid}} | Chambermaid | |
1985 | Bliss | Lucy Joy | |
1987 | Backlash | Nikki Iceton | |
1992 | Greenkeeping | Gina | |
1992 | Strictly Ballroom | Liz Holt | |
1992 | The|Girl Who Came Late}} | Wendy | |
1994 | Paperback Romance | Sophie | |
1995 | Bad Company | Julie Ames | |
1996 | The|Cottonwood|nolink=1}} | Kathy | |
1996 | Two If by Sea | Joan Rappaport (uncredited) | |
1996 | Brilliant Lies | Susy Connor | |
1997 | Lifebreath | Gale Pullman | |
1998 | Primary Colors | Cashmere McLeod | |
1998 | Letters from a Killer | Lita | |
1999 | Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me | Robin Swallows | |
2000 | The|Extreme Adventures of Super Dave}} | Sandy | Video |
2000 | Maze | Julianne | |
2001 | Jack the Dog | Georgia | |
2002 | My Big Fat Greek Wedding | Cousin Nikki | |
2003 | Exposed | Jade Blake | |
2005 | One Last Thing… | Madelene | |
2006 | Thank Heaven | Cybil | |
2006 | Stick It | Alice Graham | |
2007 | The|Trap|nolink=1}} | Clara | Short film |
2009 | Year One | Queen | |
2011 | In Loco Parentis | Mum | Short film |
2011 | Burning Man | Carol | |
2012 | White Camellias | Completed |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1983 | A|Country Practice}} | Tracy Power | Episode: "Hair of the Dog: Part 1"Episode: "Hair of the Dog: Part 2" |
1984 | Five Mile Creek | Beth | Episode: "Maggie" |
1986 | Studio 86 | Episode: "Strawberry Girl"Episode: "Sisters in the Bathroom" | |
1989 | Inside Running | TV series | |
1991 | Boys from the Bush | Episode: "The Stuffed Platypus"Episode: "Poetic Galah" | |
1991 | Acropolis Now | Haroula | Episode: "The Goddess" |
1992 | The|Resting Place|nolink=1}} | Sally | TV short |
1992 | Ultraman: Towards the Future | Jean Echo | 13 episodes |
1992-1993 | Police Rescue | Helena Angelopoulos | 7 episodes |
1993 | Seven Deadly Sins | Gluttony | TV miniseries |
1995 | The|Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space}} | Vesper, Vox’s High Priestess | TV movie |
1997 | ER | Suzanne Alner | Episode: "You Bet Your Life" |
1997 | Firehouse | Charlotte Brooks | TV movie |
1997 | The|Devil’s Child}} | Eva | TV movie |
1999 | A|Secret Affair|nolink=1}} | Mimi | TV movie |
2003 | My Big Fat Greek Life | Nikki | 7 episodes |
2003 | Gladius | Additional Voices | Video game |
2005 | Without a Trace | Stephanie Patterson | Episode: "4.0" |
2008-2009 | East of Everything | Melanie Freedman | 10 episodes |
2011 | Small Time Gangster | Darlene | 8 episodes |
Career
Early in her career, Carides starred as ‘Helena Angelopolous’ on the Australian television series Police Rescue, while also having acclaim for her films Strictly Ballroom and Brilliant Lies, receiving AFI Award nominations for each.
She is best known for her roles as Robin Spitz/Swallows in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and as Cousin Nikki in My Big Fat Greek Wedding and the sequel television show My Big Fat Greek Life.
Carides works in both America and Australia, credited with a host of film and television credits including Primary Colors, Year One and East of Everything. She’s also appeared in a guest spot of husband Anthony LaPaglia’s television series Without A Trace.
She has volunteered as an actress with the Young Storytellers Program. Gia is active in fundraising for building schools in Africa and Ethiopia with Save The Children.
Early life
Carides was born in Sydney, Australia, to a Greek father and an English mother. She began acting at the age of 12. Her first film was a hard hitting drama starring alongside Bryan Brown and Kris Macquade.
Personal life
Carides is married to actor Anthony LaPaglia, whom she met in Sydney in 1992. A year later they starred in the film Paperback Romance (a.k.a. Lucky Break). She and LaPaglia are the parents of daughter Bridget (born in January 2003). Gia Carides is sister to Zoe Carides, also an actress, and Danielle Carides, singer songwriter. Her brother in-law meanwhile is doctor-turned-actor Jonathan LaPaglia (from New York Undercover).