Nia Vardalos, My Life In Ruins

Who: Nia Vardalos

Location: Hollywood

DailyFrappe: So, Nia, we know a little about your family and your Greek roots in Winnipeg -growing up in a Greek Diaspora household somehow is always a telling bit of information. But, maybe you could talk about how you think your family, local community influenced your creative side?

Nia Vardalos: My cousin Toula, who married into the family says, “the Vardalos family only has 3 stories but they tell them over and over again.” She’s right. The whole family is funny. I’m just the only one who does it for a living.

DF: Tell us about your newest film, My Life In Ruins.

NV:  I play a Greek American tour guide who has lost her kefi and wants to leave Greece....until a man, (played by Richard Dreyfuss), gets on my bus and convinces me to open my eyes and look at my bus driver, (played by Alexis Georgoulis...or as the press in New York started calling him, “Alex Gorgeous.”)

DF: Greece, as you know, is extremely aggressive in protecting its iconic images, like the Parthenon, for commercial use. How in the world did you get permission to film at the Acropolis?

NV: It is the culmination of many years of hard work. I flew to Greece to convince the government we would not break the ruins. After much handshaking and many dinners, I was very happy when they granted us permission to shoot. There wouldn’t be a movie without Delphi and Olympia and especially the Parthenon. This film is a love letter to Greece.

DF: We like the fact My Life in Ruins has Greece as the backdrop and is in some ways relates to My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Quite frankly, we were scared “MBFGW Two” would be pushed out after the success of the first film. How much pressure was there on you to make a sequel after the initial hit?

NV: Lots.

DF: When you were deciding to make My Life In Ruins, were you concerned at all about being perceived as a one trick pony? You know, being forever type-cast as “that girl who makes Greek movies.”

NV: Ha. No, of course not. Not to compare myself, but it's not like it hurt DeNiro to play more than one Italian character. I am Greek so I will tell Greek stories. By the way, I have another movie coming out that I wrote and directed called, “I Hate Valentine’s Day” ...which is not a Greek holiday.

DF:  One movie reviewer commenting on My Life In Ruins wrote that "…Greece has rarely looked so good." From your perspective, how would you say Greece has changed since you first started to visit?  Or, maybe a better question is how has your connection and feelings towards Greece changed over the years?

NV: Clearly, I love Greece. For years, I was a visitor. Then, while making this film, I actually lived there for a while. I loved it more..

DF: OK, lets pretend it’s your last Greek meal -ever. Who's cooking and what are you ordering?

NV: I would eat my mom’s fasolia. I’d dip crusty white bread in the zoumi. And then lick the plate clean. It’s best on the second day. When I was a vegetarian (for 11 years) she never judged. But she did make sure I got protein.

DF: Be truthful now…  has there ever been an occasion while palling around with Rita Wilson or Tom Hanks where some spontaneous Greek dancing broke out?

NV: Gonna be a name dropper and admit, yes on Greek Easter at Jim Gianopoulos’ house. With Alexander Payne, Billy Zane and Melina Kanakaredes.

DF: Not a bad group...  What's next on your to-do list Nia??

NV: Spend time with my daughter. Then hopefully direct again.

DF: And lastly, Frappe or Freddo?

NV: I am a purist. Frappe.

DF: Good answer. Thanks Nia and good luck with the film!


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Nia Vardalos is the actress and writer of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the number one romantic comedy and one of the highest-grossing independent feature films in history. Vardalos lives in Los Angeles with her husband, actor Ian Gomez, and their daughter.

Her new feature film, My Life in Ruins, opens in the U.S.  theaters on June 5th. Click here for additional release dates or click here to discuss the film.