Gia Carides Explained

Gia Carides
Birth Date:1964 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation:Actress
Yearsactive:1977–present
Children:1
Education:Riverside Girls HighChatswood High School

Gia Carides (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Γιά Καρίδη|Giá Karídi; born 7 June 1964) is an Australian actress. She portrayed Liz Holt in Strictly Ballroom, Susy Connor in Brilliant Lies, and Cousin Nikki in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Early life

Carides was born in Sydney, Australia, to a Greek father and an English mother.[1] Gia is sister to Zoe Carides, also an actress, and Danielle Carides, a singer songwriter. She began acting at the age of 12; her first film was the drama The Love Letters from Teralba Road.[2]

Career

Early in her career, Carides starred as Helena Angelopolous on the Australian television series Police Rescue,[3] also receiving acclaim for her films Strictly Ballroom and Brilliant Lies, with AFI Award nominations for each.[4]

She is also known for her roles as Robin Swallows (née Spitz) in and as Cousin Nikki in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the sequel television show My Big Fat Greek Life, and the two sequel films (My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3).

Carides works in both America and Australia, recognised for a host of film and television credits including Primary Colors, Year One and East of Everything. She also appeared in a guest spot on husband Anthony LaPaglia's television series Without a Trace.

She has volunteered as an actress with the Young Storytellers Program.

In 2024 Carides was named to appear in ABC series Austin,[5] and was also named in the cast for Stan Australia feature film Nugget is Dead.[6]

Personal life

Carides was married to actor Anthony LaPaglia, whom she met in Sydney in 1992. A year later they starred together in the film Paperback Romance (a.k.a. Lucky Break). She and LaPaglia are the parents of daughter Bridget, born in January 2003.

In April 2015, newspapers reported that LaPaglia and Carides had ended their relationship after 17 years.[7]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleType
1977MaureenShort film
1978A Mill of HooksFilm short
1981Winter of Our DreamsFeature film
1981The CounterforceFilm short
1981To Play InsaneRole unknownFilm short
1982Gospel GaloshesFilm short
1982Mind Over MatterFilm short
1982Midnite SparesRuth MintosFeature film
1983Phar LapEmma Woodcock (credited as Georgia Carr)Feature film
1983Dinner with PatrickFilm short
1984Annie's Coming OutNarratorFeature film
1985A Decade of WomenFilm short
1985ChambermaidFeature film
1985BlissLucy JoyFeature film
1986BacklashNikki IcetonFeature film
1989The Third WaveFilm short
1992GreenkeepingGinaFeature film
1992Strictly BallroomLiz HoltFeature film
1992Daydream Believer (aka )WendyFeature film
1993For Whose SakeRole unknownFilm short
1994Lucky Break aka Paperback RomanceSophieFeature film
1995Bad CompanyJulie AmesFeature film
1996KathyFeature film
1996Two If by SeaJoan Rappaport (uncredited)Feature film
1996Brilliant LiesSusy ConnorFeature film
1997LifebreathGale PullmanFeature film
1998Primary ColorsCashmere McLeodFeature film
1998Letters from a KillerLitaFeature film
1999Robin SwallowsFeature film
2000SandyVideo
2000MazeJulianneFeature film
2001Jack the DogGeorgiaFeature film
2002My Big Fat Greek WeddingCousin NikkiFeature film
2003ExposedJade BlakeFeature film
2005One Last Thing...MadeleneFeature film
2006Thank HeavenCybilFeature film
2006Stick ItAlice GrahamFeature film
2007ClaraFilm short
2009Year OneQueenFeature film
2011In Loco ParentisMumFilm short
2011Burning ManCarolFeature film
2015This Isn't FunnyGillian JonesFeature film
2016My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2Cousin NikkiFeature film
2016Joe Cinque's ConsolationMaria CinqueFeature film
2018We Only Know So MuchTrudyFeature film
2023My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3Cousin NikkiFeature film
2024Nugget is DeadTBAFeature film: in production

Television

YearTitleRoleType
1978The Restless YearsTV series, 1 episode
1983Tracy PowerTV series, 2 episodes: "Hair of the Dog: Part 1"
Episode: "Hair of the Dog: Part 2"
1985Five Mile CreekBethTV series, 1 episode: "Maggie"
1986Studio 86TV series, 2 episodes: "Strawberry Girl"
Episode: "Sisters in the Bathroom"
1988Willesee's AustraliansWinnie O'SullivanTV film series, 1 episode: "Les Darcy"
1989Inside RunningTV series, 1 episode
1990Rafferty's RulesSallyTV series, 1 episode
1991Boys from the BushMariaTV series, 2 episodes: "The Stuffed Platypus"
Episode: "Poetic Galah"
1991Acropolis NowHaroulaTV series, 1 episode: "The Goddess"
1992SallyTV film short
1992In Sydney TodayGuestTV series, 1 episode
1992Jean EchoTV series, 13 episodes
1992–93Police RescueHelena AngelopoulosTV series, 7 episodes
1993Seven Deadly SinsTV series, 1 episode: "Gluttony"
1995Vesper, Vox's High PriestessTV movie
1997ERSuzanne AlnerTV series, 1 episode: "You Bet Your Life"
1997FirehouseCharlotte BrooksTV movie
1997EvaTV movie
1999MimiTV movie
2002The Dragon ChroniclesTV series
2003My Big Fat Greek LifeNikki7 episodes
2003GladiusAdditional VoicesVideo game
2005Without a TraceStephanie PattersonTV series, 1 episode: "4.0"
2008–09East of EverythingMelanie FreedmanTV series, 10 episodes
2011Small Time GangsterDarleneTV series, 8 episodes
2017; 2019Big Little LiesMelissaTV series, 9 episodes
2017Twin PeaksHannahTV series, 1 episode
2017The LibrariansLenore JonesTV series, 1 episode
2020Filthy RichVeronicaTV series, 6 episodes
2021911Sandra TV series; 1 episode
2023HouseBrokenTugboat TV series; 1 episode
2024AustinMel HoganTV series: 8 episodes

Self appearances

!Year!Titles!Role!Notes
20227 News Spotlight: Strictly BallroomHerself (with Strictly Ballroom cast)TV series, 1 episode
2018LAGFF Orpheus Awards 2018PresenterTV special
2009Inside Film AwardsHerselfTV special
2009Herself (with Anthony LaPaglia)TV special
2006David Tench TonightGuestTV series, 1 episode
1994Good Morning AustraliaGuestTV series
1994At HomeGuestTV series, 1 episode
1994Ernie and DeniseGuestTV series, 1 episode
1994Real LifeGuestTV series, 1 episode
1992The 1992 Australian Film Institute AwardsHerself - WinnerTV special
1980Drink DriveHerselfFilm documentary
1980SmokingHerselfFilm documentary

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gia Carides My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Fischer. Paul. 2002. female.com.au. en. 23 November 2019.
  2. Book: The A to Z of Australian Radio and Television. Moran. Albert. Keating. Chris. Scarecrow Press. 2009. 978-0-8108-7022-2. 76. en.
  3. Web site: Police Rescue. Mapstone. Naomi. 2 November 1992. The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). en. 2019-11-23.
  4. Web site: Strictly Ballroom wins at the 1992 AFI Awards. National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. en. 23 November 2019.
  5. Web site: Knox . David . 2023-11-11 . Production underway on Austin TV Tonight . 2024-05-21 . tvtonight.com.au . en-AU.
  6. Web site: Knox . David . 2024-05-20 . Production begins on Nugget Is Dead: A Christmas Story TV Tonight . 2024-05-21 . tvtonight.com.au . en-AU.
  7. News: 5 April 2015 . Anthony LaPaglia and Gia Carides split after 17 years of marriage: Who's Ant's mystery brunette? . The Daily Telegraph. 22 May 2015 .