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Nia Vardalos is the writer and star of MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING, the number one romantic comedy and one of the highest-grossing independent feature films in history. Discovered by Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks, Vardalos played the lead role of Toula the bride. She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay, a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress, a Writers Guild Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay, a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture, an Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance and The Peoples' Choice Award for Favorite Comedy Motion Picture.

Vardalos most recently wrote, starred in and produced the film, CONNIE AND CARLA. She next can be seen in I HATE VALENTINE'S DAY which she directs from her original screenplay and costars with John Corbett. The film will be released in 2010.

Vardalos has guest starred on television shows, including My Boys, Curb Your Enthusiasm and has hosted Saturday Night Live. As a singer, she has recorded the Broadway musical Georgy and a lullaby for the album Unexpected Dreams. She is the executive producer of the documentary A Taxi Odyssey and the narrator of the IMAX film Greece: Secrets of the Past. She has been a Guest Lecturer on screenwriting at USC and the WGA and runs a writing course for underprivileged girls. She works with charities benefiting children, LAM and AIDS research.

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada, Vardalos attended Ryerson Theater School in Toronto. Vardalos was a performer/writer in twelve revues for The Second City in Toronto and Chicago, and won Chicago's Jeff Award for Best Actress.

Vardalos lives in Los Angeles with her husband, actor Ian Gomez, and their daughter.