Name at birth: Antonia Eugenia Vardalos

Nia Vardalos is the writer and star of the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, a low-budget, independently produced feature that became one of the biggest box office hits of 2002. Based on her own family background, the screenplay was adapted from Vardalos's stage play (she received financial support from actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson). The film's success catapulted Vardalos to national fame, and spawned 2003's My Big Fat Greek Life, a television series based on the movie.