# Melina Kanakaredes

Melina Kanakaredes Constantinides (Greek: Μελίνα Ελένη Κανακαρίδη Κωνσταντινίδη; born April 23, 1967) is a Greek-American actress. She is widely known for her roles in American primetime television dramas as Dr. Sydney Hansen in Providence (1999–2002), as Detective Stella Bonasera in CSI: NY (2004–2010), and on the American daytime television drama series Guiding Light as Eleni Andros Cooper (1991–1995).

## Early life

Melina Kanakaredes was born in Akron, Ohio, the daughter of Connie (née Temo), a candy company owner, and Harry Kanakaredes, an insurance salesman. She is a second-generation Greek-American and speaks Greek fluently. Her two maternal uncles own and run a candy store in Akron called Temo's Candy Company, a chocolate store established in its current location by Kanakaredes's grandfather, Christ Temo.
At age eight, Kanakaredes made her stage debut in a production of Tom Sawyer at Weathervane Playhouse in Akron, Ohio. She graduated from the Firestone High School in Akron. She attended The Ohio State University for a short time, and then transferred to Point Park College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she performed roles in the professional theatre scene there, including the role of Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar at Pittsburgh Musical Theater. She graduated from Point Park in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater arts.

## Career
### Television

Kanakaredes' first television role was on the daytime drama Guiding Light, originating the role of Eleni Andros Cooper from 1991 to 1995. She was nominated twice for a Daytime Emmy Award for her portrayal of Eleni. At the 21st Daytime Emmy Awards in 1994, she was nominated for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series and at the 22nd Daytime Emmy Awards the following year, she was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Kanakaredes' most high-profile roles on television were as the series protagonist Dr. Sydney Hansen on Providence, which ran for five seasons between 1999 and 2002, and as Det. Stella Bonasera on the CBS drama series CSI: NY. Kanakaredes left CSI: NY in 2010, after six seasons on the program.
Other television credits include NYPD Blue (in a recurring role as reporter Benita Alden during that show's second season), Due South, Oz, The Practice, MTV's The Ben Stiller Show, a Hallmark Hall of Fame adaptation of the Anne Tyler novel Saint Maybe, and Dr. Lane Hunter on the Amy Holden Jones TV series The Resident.

### Film

Kanakaredes's film appearances include The Long Kiss Goodnight as Trin and 15 Minutes as Nicolette Karas, the girlfriend of Robert De Niro's character Eddie Flemming. She was considered for the lead role of Toula Portokalos in My Big Fat Greek Wedding but had to turn it down due to her pregnancy. She played the role of the Greek goddess Athena in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and starred in the 2013 drama Snitch alongside Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

### Stage

Subsequent to and while earning her BFA, Kanakaredes worked in theater, and her stage work includes: Sally Bowles in the 1998 revival of Cabaret and My Child: Mothers of War (2015).

## Personal life

Kanakaredes married Peter Constantinides on September 6, 1992. Together, they have two daughters: Zoe (b. 2000) and Karina Eleni (b. 2003). She and her husband, a former restaurant consultant, owned the Tria Greek Kuzina in Powell, Ohio, but it has since closed.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1987 | Carts | | Short film |
| 1994 | Bleeding Hearts | Daphne | |
| 1996 | The Long Kiss Goodnight | Trina 'Trin' | |
| 1999 | Dangerous Beauty | Livia | |
| 1998 | Rounders | Barbara | |
| 2001 | 15 Minutes | Nicolette Karas | |
| 2010 | Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief | Athena | |
| 2013 | Snitch | Sylvie Collins | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1991–1995 | Guiding Light | Eleni Andros Cooper | Main cast |
| 1995 | Due South | Victoria Metcalf | 3 episodes |
| 1995 | New York News | Angela Villanova | 13 episodes |
| 1995 | NYPD Blue | Benita Alden | 5 episodes |
| 1997 | Leaving L.A. | Libby Galante | 6 episodes |
| 1997 | The Practice | Andrea Wexler | Episodes: "First Degree", "Sex, Lies and Monkeys" |
| 1998 | Oz | A.D.A. Marilyn Crenshaw | Episode: "Great Men" |
| 1998 | Saint Maybe | Rita | Movie |
| 1999–2002 | Providence | Dr. Sydney Hansen | Lead role |
| 2004 | CSI: Miami | Detective Stella Bonasera | Episode: "MIA/NYC Nonstop" |
| 2004–2010 | CSI: NY | Detective Stella Bonasera | Lead role 140 Episodes |
| 2005 | Into the Fire | Catrina Hampton/Sabrina Hampton | Movie |
| 2015 | Hawaii Five-0 | Special Agent Kathy Millwood | Episode: "Nanahu" |
| 2015 | Extant | Dorothy Richter | 5 episodes |
| 2016 | Notorious | Dana Hartman | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | The Resident | Dr. Lane Hunter | Main role, season 1 Guest star, season 2 (15 episodes) |
| 2020 | Blood of Zeus | Ariana | Original Netflix anime series (2 episodes) |
| 2023 | Billions | Nancy Dunlop | Episodes: "The Owl", "Axe Global" and "Admirals Fund" |
| 2025 | NCIS | Eleni Kostakis | Episode: "Baker's Man", |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2008 | CSI: NY | Det. Stella Bonasera (voice) | Video game |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result |
| 1994 | Daytime Emmys | Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series | Guiding Light | Nominated |
| 1995 | Daytime Emmys | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Guiding Light | Nominated |
| 2000 | TV Guide Awards | Favorite Actress in a Drama | Providence | Won |