Melina Kanakaredes

Melina Eleni Kanakaredes-Constantinides (; born April 23, 1967) is a Greek-American actress, widely known for her roles in American primetime television dramas as Dr. Sydney Hansen in Providence (1999–2002), Detective Stella Bonasera in CSI: NY Seasons 1-6 (2004–2010) and the evil Dr. Lane Hunter in the first two seasons of The Resident. She also starred on the American soap opera Guiding Light as the first Eleni Andros (1991–1995).

Early life Kanakaredes was born in Akron, Ohio, the youngest of three daughters of Connie (née Temo), a candy company owner, and Harry Kanakaredes, an insurance salesman. She is a second-generation Greek-American and speaks Greek fluently. Her two maternal uncles owned and ran a candy store in Akron called Temo's Candy Company, a chocolate store established by Kanakaredes' grandfather, Christ Temo, until its closure in 2020.

At age eight, Kanakaredes made her stage debut in a production of Tom Sawyer at Weathervane Playhouse in Akron, Ohio. She graduated from the Firestone High School in Akron. She attended The Ohio State University for a short time, and then transferred to Point Park College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There she also performed roles in the professional theatre scene, including that of Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar at Pittsburgh Musical Theater. She graduated from Point Park in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater arts.

Career

Television Kanakaredes' first television role was on the daytime drama Guiding Light, originating the role of Eleni Andros from 1991 to 1995. She was nominated twice for a Daytime Emmy Award for her portrayal of Eleni. At the 21st Daytime Emmy Awards in 1994, she was nominated for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series and at the 22nd Daytime Emmy Awards the following year, she was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Kanakaredes' most high-profile roles on television were as the series protagonist Dr. Sydney Hansen on Providence, which ran for five seasons between 1999 and 2002, and as Det. Stella Bonasera on the CBS drama series CSI: NY. Kanakaredes left CSI: NY in 2010, after six seasons on the program.

Other television credits include NYPD Blue (in a recurring role as reporter Benita Alden during that show's second season), Due South, Oz, The Practice, Mad TV, a Hallmark Hall of Fame adaptation of the Anne Tyler novel Saint Maybe, and Dr. Lane Hunter on the Amy Holden Jones TV series The Resident. She also voice acted in episodes two and four of the first season of the animated Netflix series Blood of Zeus.

Film Kanakaredes' film appearances include The Long Kiss Goodnight as Trin and 15 Minutes as Nicolette Karas, the girlfriend of Robert De Niro's character Eddie Flemming. She was considered for the lead role of Toula Portokalos in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but had to turn it down due to her first pregnancy. She played the role of the Greek goddess Athena in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and starred in the 2013 drama Snitch alongside Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Stage Subsequent to and while earning her BFA, Kanakaredes worked in theater, and her stage work includes: Sally Bowles in the 1998 revival of Cabaret and My Child: Mothers of War (2015).

Personal life Kanakaredes married Peter Constantinides (born March 29th, 1966), a chef, realtor and former restaurant consultant in a Greek Orthodox ceremony on September 6, 1992. They have two daughters: Zoe (born May 23, 2000) and Karina Eleni (born January 25, 2003). Both of her pregnancies weren’t written in during Providence seasons 2 and 5.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Awards and nominations