Kanakaredes was born in Akron, Ohio, the daughter of Connie, a candy company owner, and Harry Kanakaredes, an insurance salesman. She is a second-generation Greek-American and speaks Greek. 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 8, 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 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's first television role was on the daytime dramaGuiding 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. Her 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 . Kanakaredes left CSI: NY in 2010, after six seasons on the program. Her other television credits include NYPD Blue, 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 TV seriesThe 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. She was considered for the lead role in My Big Fat Greek Wedding but had to turn it down due to her pregnancy. She played the role of the Greek GoddessAthena in and starred in the 2013 drama Snitch alongside Dwayne Johnson.
Personal life
Kanakaredes married Peter Constantinides on September 6, 1992. Together, they have two daughters: Zoe and Karina Eleni. She and her husband, a former restaurant consultant, owned the "Tria Greek Kuzina" in Powell, Ohio, but it has since closed.
