Melina Eleni Kanakaredes Constantinides (Greek: Μελίνα Ελένη Κανακαρίδη Κωνσταντινίδη; born April 23, 1967) is an American actress. She is widely known for her roles in U.S. primetime television dramas as Dr. Sydney Hansen in Providence (1999–2002), as Detective Stella Bonasera in CSI: NY (2004–2010), and on the American daytime television drama series Guiding Light as Eleni Andros Cooper (1991–1995).

Kanakaredes was born in Akron, Ohio, the daughter of Connie (née Temo), a candy company owner, and Harry Kanakaredes, an insurance salesman.^[1][2] She is a second-generation Greek-American and speaks Greek fluently.^[3] 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.^[4]

At age eight, Kanakaredes made her stage debut in a production of Tom Sawyer at Weathervane Playhouse in Akron, Ohio.^[5] She graduated from the Firestone High School in Akron.^[6] 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.^[7] She graduated from Point Park in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater arts.^[8]

Kanakaredes married Peter Constantinides^[11] on September 6, 1992.^[12][13] Together, they have two daughters: Zoe (b. 2000) and Karina Eleni (b. 2003).^[11] She and her husband, a former restaurant consultant,^[11] owned the "Tria Greek Kuzina" in Powell, Ohio, but it has since closed.^[14]

• List of Greek Americans