NewYorksAngels

[stellaluvr14]

Know any interesting things about Melina? Post them in here. :)

[stellaluvr14]

Daughter Zoe born 23 May 2000, weighing 7 lbs, 12 oz.

Competed in Synchronized Swimming while at Ohio State, famous for its college Synchronized Swimming program.

Her husband, Peter, is a chef and restaurateur.

Graduated From Point Park College In Pittsburgh.

Graduated magna cum laude with a BFA in theatre from Point Park College in Pittsburgh. Family owns and runs a candy factory in Akron.

Speaks fluent Greek.

Was considered for the lead for My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002), but was pregnant at the time.

January 25, 2003: welcomed second daughter, Karina Eleni, born in Los Angeles.

Spokeswoman for Maybelline New York (2001)

Graduated from Firestone High School in Akron, Ohio.

Her first TV commercial was for Semicid contraceptive. Her agent (who she still uses as a result of this) worked an "embarrassment clause" into her contract for the commercial, which has become standard for her ever since.

Is currently one of the stars on "CSI: NY" (2004), which was introduced in the "CSI: Miami" (2002) cross-over episode "MIA/NYC Nonstop." "Miami" star David Caruso was a popular cast member of "NYPD Blue" (1993), a series in which Melina made numerous guest appearances.

While most of the "CSI: NY" (2004) cast is from New York, Kanakaredes is one of three exceptions. The others are Gary Sinise (who was born in Illinois) and Anna Belknap (who was born in Maine).

She competed as "Miss Columbus" in The 1986 Miss Ohio Pageant (Miss America).

At the 1986 Miss Ohio Pageant, she won a talent award in a three-way tie, and was eventually named first runner up to Miss Ohio 1986.

Source: http://www.imdb.com

[stellaluvr14]

Melina is a spokesperson for the Children's Brain Tumor Foundation.

Melina and her husband, a former restaurant consultant, own the Tria Greek Kuzina in Powell, Ohio.

Melina made her acting debut when she was 8 years old in the community theater production of Tom Sawyer.

In 1999, Melina was featured in People's magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People In The World".

After Melina was crowned Miss Coloumbus she became the first runner-up at the 1986 Miss Ohio Pageant.

While starring in Providence, Melina filmed three public service announcements for NBC 's The More You Know. Her topics were parental involvement, child abuse, and reading.

Despite the fact that Stella Bonasera always wears pants on the show, Melina is a fan of dresses in real life and tries to bring a bit of what she loves into the show.

Melina has two daughters, she is the youngest of three girls and all her cousins are girls too.

When she was starting her career, Melina's agents had suggested she should change her hellenic name and straighten her hair, but she refused.

Before Melina could win the role of Robert De Niro's partner in 15 Minutes she had to meet with the actor, since he was the one to give the final approval.

In 1998 she was offered a role in Law & Order, after Jill Hennessey had left the show, but she turned it down.

While shooting 15 Minutes and Providence she kept flying from L.A. to N.Y., without time off. So after completing her shootings, she took her husband on a romantic weekend and soon after discovered she was pregnant.

Her parents wanted her to become a lawyer or doctor, since they considered these careers as "serious;" however, Melina's love was acting.

Her family owned a candy store in Akron called Temo's Chocolate Company. When she comes back to Akron to visit family, she still goes to Temo's, which is now owned by her uncle.

Melina has appeared in many commercials :
TV commercial for Kmart (1991), Semicid (1991), Rave (1991), Hyundai (1991), Sony (1991), Diet Rite (1991) Maybelline Smooth Result makeup (2001)
and Print ad: Lee Jeans, 2002.

Melina played the role of Eleni Andros Cooper for four years on the daytime soap opera "The Guiding Light," which she earned her two Emmy nominations for. The character of Eleni Cooper was special to Melina, as Eleni was Greek, and her time on that soap opera garnered her a strong fan following.

Melina's first name was derived from the Greek prefix Meli, which means 'honey.' It came from the nurses at the hospital, who were always calling her Honey.

Her first TV commercial was for Semicid contraceptive. Her agent (who she still uses as a result of this) worked an "embarrassment clause" into her contract for the commercial, which has become standard for her ever since.

Source: http://www.tv.com/melina-kanakaredes/person/1643/trivia.html