# Gia Carides

Gia Carides (Greek: Γιά Καρίδη, romanized: Giá Karídi; born 7 June 1964) is an Australian actress. She portrayed 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 is also known for her roles as Robin Swallows (née Spitz) in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and as 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, recognised for a host of film and television credits including 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.
She has volunteered as an actress with the Young Storytellers Program.
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 are the parents of daughter Bridget, born in January 2003.
In April 2015, newspapers reported that LaPaglia and Carides had ended their relationship after 17 years.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Type |
| 1977 | The Love Letters from Teralba Road | Maureen | Short film |
| 1978 | A Mill of Hooks | | Film short |
| 1981 | Winter of Our Dreams | | Feature film |
| 1981 | The Counterforce | | Film short |
| 1981 | To Play Insane | Role unknown | Film short |
| 1982 | Gospel Galoshes | | Film short |
| 1982 | Mind Over Matter | | Film short |
| 1982 | Midnite Spares | Ruth Mintos | Feature film |
| 1983 | Phar Lap | Emma Woodcock (credited as Georgia Carr) | Feature film |
| 1983 | Dinner with Patrick | | Film short |
| 1984 | Annie's Coming Out | Narrator | Feature film |
| 1985 | A Decade of Women | | Film short |
| 1985 | The Coca-Cola Kid | Chambermaid | Feature film |
| 1985 | Bliss | Lucy Joy | Feature film |
| 1986 | Backlash | Nikki Iceton | Feature film |
| 1989 | The Third Wave | | Film short |
| 1992 | Greenkeeping | Gina | Feature film |
| 1992 | Strictly Ballroom | Liz Holt | Feature film |
| 1992 | Daydream Believer (aka The Girl Who Came Late) | Wendy | Feature film |
| 1993 | For Whose Sake | Role unknown | Film short |
| 1994 | Lucky Break aka Paperback Romance | Sophie | Feature film |
| 1995 | Bad Company | Julie Ames | Feature film |
| 1996 | The Cottonwood | Kathy | Feature film |
| 1996 | Two If by Sea | Joan Rappaport (uncredited) | Feature film |
| 1996 | Brilliant Lies | Susy Connor | Feature film |
| 1997 | Lifebreath | Gale Pullman | Feature film |
| 1998 | Primary Colors | Cashmere McLeod | Feature film |
| 1998 | Letters from a Killer | Lita | Feature film |
| 1999 | Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me | Robin Swallows (née Spitz) | Feature film |
| 2000 | The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave | Sandy | Video |
| 2000 | Maze | Julianne | Feature film |
| 2001 | Jack the Dog | Georgia | Feature film |
| 2002 | My Big Fat Greek Wedding | Cousin Nikki | Feature film |
| 2003 | Exposed | Jade Blake | Feature film |
| 2005 | One Last Thing... | Madelene | Feature film |
| 2006 | Thank Heaven | Cybil | Feature film |
| 2006 | Stick It | Alice Graham | Feature film |
| 2007 | The Trap | Clara | Film short |
| 2009 | Year One | Queen | Feature film |
| 2011 | In Loco Parentis | Mum | Film short |
| 2011 | Burning Man | Carol | Feature film |
| 2015 | This Isn't Funny | Gillian Jones | Feature film |
| 2016 | My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 | Cousin Nikki | Feature film |
| 2016 | Joe Cinque's Consolation | Maria Cinque | Feature film |
| 2018 | We Only Know So Much | Trudy | Feature film |
| 2023 | My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 | Cousin Nikki | Feature film |
| 2024 | Nugget is Dead: A Christmas Story | Jodie | Feature film |
| 2025 | In Your Dreams | Nightmara (voice) | Feature film |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Type |
| 1978 | The Restless Years | | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1983 | A Country Practice | Tracy Power | TV series, 2 episodes: "Hair of the Dog: Part 1" Episode: "Hair of the Dog: Part 2" |
| 1985 | Five Mile Creek | Beth | TV series, 1 episode: "Maggie" |
| 1986 | Studio 86 | | TV series, 2 episodes: "Strawberry Girl" Episode: "Sisters in the Bathroom" |
| 1988 | Willesee's Australians | Winnie O'Sullivan | TV film series, 1 episode: "Les Darcy" |
| 1989 | Inside Running | | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1990 | Rafferty's Rules | Sally | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1991 | Boys from the Bush | Maria | TV series, 2 episodes: "The Stuffed Platypus" Episode: "Poetic Galah" |
| 1991 | Acropolis Now | Haroula | TV series, 1 episode: "The Goddess" |
| 1992 | The Resting Place | Sally | TV film short |
| 1992 | In Sydney Today | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | Ultraman: Towards the Future | Jean Echo | TV series, 13 episodes |
| 1992–93 | Police Rescue | Helena Angelopoulos | TV series, 7 episodes |
| 1993 | Seven Deadly Sins | | TV series, 1 episode: "Gluttony" |
| 1995 | The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space | Vesper, Vox's High Priestess | TV movie |
| 1997 | ER | Suzanne Alner | TV series, 1 episode: "You Bet Your Life" |
| 1997 | Firehouse | Charlotte Brooks | TV movie |
| 1997 | The Devil's Child | Eva | TV movie |
| 1999 | A Secret Affair | Mimi | TV movie |
| 2002 | The Dragon Chronicles | | TV series |
| 2003 | My Big Fat Greek Life | Nikki | 7 episodes |
| 2003 | Gladius | Additional Voices | Video game |
| 2005 | Without a Trace | Stephanie Patterson | TV series, 1 episode: "4.0" |
| 2008–09 | East of Everything | Melanie Freedman | TV series, 10 episodes |
| 2011 | Small Time Gangster | Darlene | TV series, 8 episodes |
| 2017; 2019 | Big Little Lies | Melissa | TV series, 9 episodes |
| 2017 | Twin Peaks | Hannah | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2017 | The Librarians | Lenore Jones | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2020 | Filthy Rich | Veronica | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 2021 | 911 | Sandra | TV series; 1 episode |
| 2023 | HouseBroken | Tugboat | TV series; 1 episode |
| 2024 | Austin | Mel Hogan | TV series: 8 episodes |

### Self appearances

| Year | Titles | Role | Notes |
| 2022 | 7 News Spotlight: Strictly Ballroom | Herself (with Strictly Ballroom cast) | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2018 | LAGFF Orpheus Awards 2018 | Presenter | TV special |
| 2009 | Inside Film Awards | Herself | TV special |
| 2009 | Australia Unites: The Victorian Bushfire Appeal | Herself (with Anthony LaPaglia) | TV special |
| 2006 | David Tench Tonight | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | Good Morning Australia | Guest | TV series |
| 1994 | At Home | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | Ernie and Denise | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | Real Life | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | The 1992 Australian Film Institute Awards | Herself - Winner | TV special |
| 1980 | Drink Drive | Herself | Film documentary |
| 1980 | Smoking | Herself | Film documentary |