Photo: John Shearer © WireImage.com

Born Antonia Eugenia Vardalos in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; educated at Ryerson University (Toronto, ON, Canada); trained at Chicago's Second City. Her one-woman play My Big Fat Greek Wedding, was turned into a movie in 2002 after Rita Wilson saw the play and recommended it to husband Tom Hanks. Hanks and Wilson produced the film, and it went on to become one of the most successful independent releases of all time. Vardalos' other notable credits include NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY (1996, actress), MEN SEEKING WOMEN (1997, actress), MEET PRINCE CHARMING (1999, actress), "My Big Fat Greek Life" (2002, actress), CONNIE AND CARLA (2004, actress, writer & exec. producer), and A WILDERNESS OF MONKEYS and MY LIFE IN RUINS (both 2008, both writer & actress). Since 1993, Vardalos has been married to TV actor Ian Gomez (b. 1964).  Nominated for Achievement in Writing (Original Screenplay) 2002: MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 1 nomination