Gia Carides (; born 7 June 1964) is an Australian actress. She played Liz Holt in Strictly Ballroom (1992), Susy Connor in Brilliant Lies (1996), and Cousin Nikki in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise (2002–2023).
Early life Carides was born in Sydney, Australia, to a Greek father and an English mother. 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.
Career Early in her career, Carides starred as Helena Angelopolous on the Australian television series Police Rescue, also receiving acclaim for her films Strictly Ballroom and Brilliant Lies, with AFI Award nominations for each.
She played Robin Swallows (née Spitz) in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and 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, and her film and television credits include 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.
In 2024 Carides was named to appear in ABC series Austin, and was also named in the cast for Stan Australia feature film Nugget is Dead.
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 have a daughter, born in 2003. In April 2015, newspapers reported that LaPaglia and Carides had ended their relationship after 17 years.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Type1977MaureenShort film1978A Mill of HooksFilm short1981Winter of Our DreamsFeature film1981The CounterforceFilm short1981To Play InsaneRole unknownFilm short1982Gospel GaloshesFilm short1982Mind Over MatterFilm short1982Midnite SparesRuth MintosFeature film1983Phar LapEmma Woodcock (credited as Georgia Carr)Feature film1983Dinner with PatrickFilm short1984Annie's Coming Out NarratorFeature film1985A Decade of WomenFilm short1985ChambermaidFeature film1985BlissLucy JoyFeature film1986BacklashNikki IcetonFeature film1989The Third WaveFilm short1992GreenkeepingGinaFeature film1992Strictly BallroomLiz HoltFeature film1992Daydream Believer (aka )WendyFeature film1993For Whose SakeRole unknownFilm short1994Lucky Break aka Paperback RomanceSophieFeature film1995Bad CompanyJulie AmesFeature film1996KathyFeature film1996Two If by SeaJoan Rappaport (uncredited)Feature film1996Brilliant LiesSusy ConnorFeature film1997LifebreathGale PullmanFeature film1998Primary ColorsCashmere McLeodFeature film1998Letters from a KillerLitaFeature film1999Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged MeRobin Swallows Feature film2000SandyVideo2000MazeJulianneFeature film2001Jack the DogGeorgiaFeature film2002My Big Fat Greek WeddingCousin NikkiFeature film2003ExposedJade BlakeFeature film2005One Last Thing...MadeleneFeature film2006Thank HeavenCybilFeature film2006Stick ItAlice GrahamFeature film2007ClaraFilm short2009Year OneQueenFeature film2011In Loco ParentisMumFilm short2011Burning ManCarolFeature film2015This Isn't FunnyGillian JonesFeature film2016My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2Cousin NikkiFeature film2016Joe Cinque's ConsolationMaria CinqueFeature film2018We Only Know So MuchTrudyFeature film2021Back to the OutbackDoreen (voice)Feature Film 2023My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3Cousin NikkiFeature film2024Nugget is Dead: A Christmas StoryJodieFeature film2025In Your DreamsNightmara (voice)Feature film
Television Year Title Role Type1978The Restless YearsTV series, 1 episode1983Tracy 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 episode1990Rafferty's Rules SallyTV series, 1 episode1991Boys from the Bush MariaTV series, 2 episodes: "The Stuffed Platypus"Episode: "Poetic Galah"1991Acropolis Now HaroulaTV series, 1 episode: "The Goddess"1992SallyTV film short1992In Sydney Today GuestTV series, 1 episode1992Ultraman: Towards the FutureJean EchoTV series, 13 episodes1992–93Police RescueHelena AngelopoulosTV series, 7 episodes1993Seven Deadly SinsTV series, 1 episode: "Gluttony"1995Vesper, Vox's High PriestessTV movie1997ERSuzanne AlnerTV series, 1 episode: "You Bet Your Life"1997FirehouseCharlotte BrooksTV movie1997EvaTV movie1999MimiTV movie2002The Dragon ChroniclesTV series2003My Big Fat Greek LifeNikki7 episodes2003GladiusAdditional VoicesVideo game2005Without a TraceStephanie PattersonTV series, 1 episode: "4.0"2008–09East of EverythingMelanie FreedmanTV series, 10 episodes2011Small Time Gangster DarleneTV series, 8 episodes2017; 2019Big Little Lies MelissaTV series, 9 episodes2017Twin PeaksHannahTV series, 1 episode2017The Librarians Lenore JonesTV series, 1 episode2020Filthy RichVeronicaTV series, 6 episodes2021911Sandra TV series; 1 episode2023HouseBrokenTugboat TV series; 1 episode2024–presentAustinMel HoganTV series: 16 episodes
Self appearances +YearTitlesRoleNotes20227 News Spotlight: Strictly BallroomHerself (with Strictly Ballroom cast)TV series, 1 episode2018LAGFF Orpheus Awards 2018PresenterTV special2009Inside Film AwardsHerselfTV special2009Australia Unites: The Victorian Bushfire AppealHerself (with Anthony LaPaglia)TV special2006David Tench TonightGuestTV series, 1 episode1994Good Morning AustraliaGuestTV series1994At HomeGuestTV series, 1 episode1994Ernie and DeniseGuestTV series, 1 episode1994Real LifeGuestTV series, 1 episode1992The 1992 Australian Film Institute AwardsHerself - WinnerTV special1980Drink DriveHerselfFilm documentary1980SmokingHerselfFilm documentary
References
External links
Gia Carides– Australian Film Commission