Melina Kanakaredes

Photo of Melina Kanakaredes

Biography

With her wavy brunette hair, piercing green eyes and expressive personality, Melina Kanakaredes has been winning fans since her 1991 breakout role as Greek immigrant Eleni Andros on CBS' daytime serial "Guiding Light". The Ohio-born former beauty contestant spent nearly five years playing the character who moved from wide-eyed innocent to more mature wife and mother, earning a Daytime Emmy nod along the way. Her talent and abilities …
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Job Title

Actor

Born

Melina Elena Kanakaredes on April 23, 1967 in Akron, Ohio, USA

Career Milestones

2013

Cast opposite Dwayne Johnson in action drama "Snitch"

2010

Cast as Athena, goddess of wisdom and Battle Strategies in the adaptation "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief"

2005

Co-starred with Sean Patrick Flanery and JoBeth Williams in Michael Phelan's "Into the Fire"

2004

Starred opposite Gary Sinise on "CSI: NY" (CBS) as the show's lead female forensic investigator

2000

Played a TV journalist opposite Robert De Niro in "15 Minutes"

1999

Played Dr. Sydney Hansenas, a surgeon who returns to her New England home on NBC's "Providence"

1998

Landed small role in John Dahl's "Rounders"

1998

Played a Courtesan in "Dangerous Beauty"

1997

Co-starred on short-lived ABC drama "Leaving L.A."

1995

Series debut as regular, portrayed journalist Angela Villanova on short-lived CBS drama "New York News"

1995

Played a woman from Mountie Benton Fraser's past on two-part season finale of "Due South" (CBS)

1995

Played recurring role of Jimmy Smits' journalist girlfriend on ABC's "NYPD Blue"

1994

Made feature film debut in "Bleeding Hearts"

1991

Portrayed Greek immigrant Eleni Andros on CBS' "Guiding Light"

1989

Moved to NYC to pursue career

Was runner-up in Miss Ohio beauty pageant

Began performing at age eight in local community theater

Awards

1994

Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in Guiding Light

1993

Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in Guiding Light