KANAKAREDES, Melina 1967–

PERSONAL

Surname is pronounced "ka–na–KA ree–deez"; born April 23, 1967, in Akron, OH; daughter of Harry (an insurance salesperson) and Connie (a candy company owner) Kanakaredes; married Peter Constantinades (a chef), 1992; children: Zoe, Karina. Education: Point Park College, B.F.A. (magna cum laude), theatre; also attended Ohio State University. Avocational Interests: Visiting family, swimming, reading, exercising, traveling, listening to music, watching sports.

Addresses: Agent— Bill Butler, The Gersh Agency, 232 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

Career: Actress. Appeared in advertisements, including television commercials for Clairol, Diet Rite, Hyundai, Kmart, Rave, Semicid, and Sony.

Awards, Honors: First runner up, Miss Ohio Pageant, 1986; Soap Opera Digest Award nomination, outstanding female newcomer, 1992, Soap Opera Digest Award nomination, hottest female star, Daytime Emmy Award nomination, outstanding young leading actress in a drama series, 1994, and Daytime Emmy Award nomination, outstanding supporting actress in a drama series, 1995, all for Guiding Light; TV Guide Award, favorite actress in a drama, 2000, TV Guide Award nomination, actress of the year in a drama series, 2001, both for Providence.

CREDITS

Television Appearances; Series:

Eleni Andros Spaulding Cooper, Guiding Light, CBS, 1991–1995.

Benita Alden, a recurring role, NYPD Blue, ABC, 1994–1995.

Angela Villanova, New York News, CBS, 1995.

Libby Gallante, Leaving L.A., ABC, 1997.

Dr. Sydney Hansen, Providence, NBC, 1999–2003.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Rita, Saint Maybe (also known as Anne Tyler's Saint Maybe ), CBS, 1998.

Television Appearance; Specials:

50 Years of Soaps: An All–Star Celebration, CBS, 1994.

The Greek Americans II: Passing the Torch, PBS, 2000.

NBC 75th Anniversary Special (also known as NBC 75th Anniversary Celebration ), NBC, 2002.

NBC's Funniest Outtakes, NBC, 2002.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

Presenter, 20th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, 1993.

Presenter, 2nd Annual TV Guide Awards, Fox, 2000.

Presenter, The 26th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 2000.

Presenter, The 53rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, CBS, 2001.

The 2001 TV Guide Awards, Fox, 2001.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Victoria Metcalfe, "Letting Go," Due South, CBS, 1995.

Victoria Metcalfe, "Victoria's Secret: Parts 1 & 2," Due South, CBS, 1995.

Andrea Wexler, "First Degree," The Practice, ABC, 1997.

Andrea Wexler, "Sex, Lies and Monkeys," The Practice, ABC, 1997.

Assistant District Attorney Marilyn Crenshaw, "Great Men," Oz, HBO, 1998.

Herself, The View, ABC, 1999, 2002, 2003.

MADtv, 2002.

Television Director; Episodic:

"The Sound of Music," Providence, NBC, 2002.

Film Appearances:

Carts, 1987.

Daphne, White Man's Burden (also known as Fatal Destiny and Bleeding Hearts ), Savoy Pictures, 1994.

Trin, The Long Kiss Goodnight, New Line Cinema, 1996.

Barbara, Rounders, Miramax, 1998.

Livia, Dangerous Beauty (also known as Courtesan, The Honest Courtesan, and Venice ), Warner Bros., 1998.

Nicolette Karas, 15 Minutes, New Line Cinema, 2001.

Stage Appearances:

Isabelle, Down by the Ocean, York Theatre Company, New York City, 1994.

Sally Bowles, Cabaret, Studio 54, New York City, 2003.

Appeared in off–Broadway productions; appeared in plays at the Pittsburgh Playhouse and the Pittsburgh Public Theatre, both Pittsburgh, PA; also appeared in community theatre productions in Ohio; worked in productions on a dinner boat, New York City.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

Biography, March, 2002, pp. 66–69.

Entertainment Weekly, April 29, 1994, p. 64; January 8, 1999, p. 52.

TV Guide, October 14, 2000, pp. 20–21.