"My Big Fat Greek Wedding"
With John Corbett and Nia Vardalos
Costars
Wednesday, May 8, 2002; 2:30 p.m. EDT

The new romantic comedy "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" is a story about finding love and the capacity for families to meddle with relationships. The movie stars John Corbett and Nia Vardalos -- in a tale about love that is drawn largely from Vardalos' own life. Vardalos originally staged the story as a one-woman show before adapting it for the screen.

Corbett and Vardalos were online Wednesday, May 8 at 2:30 p.m. EDT, to discuss the new movie and their careers.

Corbett plays Ian Miller in the film, a high school teacher who falls for a Greek woman and is soon involved with her entire family. A native of Wheeling, W. Va., Corbett is best known for his regular role as Chris, a philosophizing disc jockey, on the popular television series "Northern Exposure." Corbett has most recently been seen as Aidan, the love interest of Sarah Jessica Parker on HBO's "Sex and the City." Vardalos portrays Toula Portokalos, a Greek girl who defies family traditions when she falls for a non-Greek man. The actress-writer, who adapted her popular one-woman theatrical show for the screen, was born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada, and a member of Chicago's famed "Second City" from 1990 through 1994. Currently, Vardalos is a recurring character on the critically acclaimed "Curb Your Enthusiasm," a half-hour comedy for HBO from "Seinfeld" co-creator Larry David.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

washingtonpost.com: Nia and John should be with us momentarily.

washingtonpost.com: Sorry for the delay, John and Nia will be joining us at 2:45 p.m. EDT.

Washington, D.C.: I had an opportunity to view your film several days ago. It was most entertaining and it must have been an enjoyable project to work on. Was that the case?

John Corbett and Nia Vardalos: Nia: Yes, we laughed so much through the filming that there was always food flying out of somebody's nose. My whole family flew in to be extras in the film and we would take photos of the cast and my family blended in so well -- you couldn't tell who was family, but it did look like the mafia was in town.

John: What she said.

Chicago, Ill.: I would love to see this film with my parents. My father is Greek, my mother is not. My grandmother was offering to send dad to Greece to find a bride from "The Old Country" right up until the wedding. She would probably roll over in her grave if she knew how often her precious baby boy did the family cooking.

John Corbett and Nia Vardalos: Nia: Wow, that's an amazing comment. I do find I'm having so many people saying this is similar to their situation -- Greek or not. One woman said "I'm Chinese and you're talking about my family."

Centreville, Va.: Was it difficult to find other actors who were Greek (or at least could act Greek)? I am asking this realizing that the best known actor to play a Greek was Anthony Quinn.

John Corbett and Nia Vardalos: Nia: Yes, Quinn is Mexican and an honorary Greek. We scoured the earth for Greeks and cast them. If someone came in and wasn't greek, we worked with them too.

Bethesda, Md.: John,

I just wanted to say that you were so awesome as Chris on "Northern Exposure" and you were equally terrific as Aidan on "Sex and the City." You played your character which such realistic warmth. I hope to see you in more great shows (and movies). Any plans on teaming up with Parker again? You guys have such great onscreen chemistry!

John Corbett and Nia Vardalos: Thank you. I may go back and do another episode or two of SATC. We were working on writing a musical together because we both read and write music and sing. It's either gonna be "Dance Puppet, Dance Puppet."

Washington, D.C.: Did you research the Greek subculture in preparing for your roles? If so, what did you do/discover?

John Corbett and Nia Vardalos: John: I don't talk about my methods of research.

Nia: It was in my genes.

John: Not those jeans.

Baltimore, Md.: Is this a typical romantic comedy? If not, what makes it different. As a discriminating fan of SCTV, please, please give me a reason to go see this movie.

John Corbett and Nia Vardalos: Nia: When's the last time you laughed 60 times in an hour and half. And no, it is not typical.

Annapolis, Md.: Question for Nia. Did your real-life family react negatively when you married a non-Greek? In other words, is this movie somewhat autobiographical?

John Corbett and Nia Vardalos: Nia: The Movie is semi-autographical. Ian volunteered to get baptised Greek Orthodox and suddently the road to Greek happuiness was paved.

Gaithersburg, Md. (with ties to Wheeling): John, I saw you a few years ago in the Alpha in Wheeling & was so stunned I almost fell outta my chair! Then a friend pointed out that you are from the area, but I was still a little too starstruck to say anything.

We go there to visit college (Wheeling Jesuit to be exact) friends every few months. It's not the sort of place one goes planning to see a gorgeous national TV star so I was a little taken aback.

My question is: How often do you get to go back to Wheeling? I promise the next time we're both at the Pha at the same time, the drinks will be on me dear!

John Corbett and Nia Vardalos: Well, once in a while I get back there. I really live in Seattle, Washington now. All my family moved away from Wheeling, so not much reason.

Washington, D.C.: Nia, you are an inspiration. Did you ever envision your story being made into a feature film?

John Corbett and Nia Vardalos: Nia: No, I'm having an out of body experience and yet enjoying it as much as humanly possible. SUcking every last drop out of the Hollywood train. I'm surprised about the inspiration part. I just wanted a job, that's all I wanted.

The only thing I'm working on now is booking a trip to Greece, I have other acting offers. I"m open to what I find when I get back to LA.

Lincoln, Neb.: What was it like working with NSync member Joey Fatone? Lots of teenage girls stalking the set?

John Corbett and Nia Vardalos: He was great. Remarkably humble -- under 25-year-old millionaire. He's a great guy. Open to any acting tips and the minute he put on the velour sweatsuit he became cousin Angelo.

Washington, D.C.: For Nia,
First of all, KALO PASXA.
I am a young Greek woman, and I think the mere idea of your play/movie is hilarious, genuine and very heartwarming What do you plan to do next? A book? Another film?

For John,
It's good to see Chris in the Morning back on the screen. Woo-hoo! Now, what are the chances of marrying a Greek in REAL life?

John Corbett and Nia Vardalos: Nia: Happy easter back to you. And I just plan to keep working but I don't know on what yet, and regarxding JOhn marrying a Greek girl, I'm fixing him up with my cousin Nikki.

Harrisburg, Pa.: "Northern Exposure," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and "Sex and the City" are three of the all time greatest television shows. What differences do you find between working in movies and working in television?

John Corbett and Nia Vardalos: John: I find no difference at all except that it takes longer for the product to come out and sometimes looking at a big production movie can be a pain in the a**.

Nia: Curb YOur Enthusiasm was remarkably different b ecause it's all improvised.

Washington, D.C.: How did you manage to make a movie about my mother? My mom (also Toula!) emigrated to America as a girl, and married my Irish-American dad. The movie looks wonderfully hillarious, and while my Greek relatives aren't as numerous or as crazy as the ones in the movie, I can tell they share a great love for two things: life and family. Thanks for making this film! Can't wait to see it!

John Corbett and Nia Vardalos: Nia: That's such a sweet comment. Tell your mom Hello!

Arlington, Va.: What's next for both of you?

John Corbett and Nia Vardalos: Nia: John is also going on a trip to Madagascar for the summer.

Bowie, Md.: How much involvement did Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have in the development and production of this movie? Did Rita Wilson contribute any of her experience as a Greek American?

John Corbett and Nia Vardalos: Nia: Tom and Rita were incredibly hands-on. They absolutely molded my script down from the 30 pages too long that it was and Rita was insistent on casting Greeks and Tom was right there on the set.

Boston, Mass.: My friends and I are dying to see this film; any idea when it's supposed to open in wide release?

John Corbett and Nia Vardalos: It is opening in Boston on this Friday. Which is also the case for D.C.

Gaithersburg, Md.: Some 30 years ago I worked in a movie theater. Every couple of months the leaders of the local Greek community would rent the place for the day and show Greek films. Entire extended families would come and stay all day long, wandering in and out of the theater, hanging out in the lobby, eating food, hugging each other, talking, yelling, fighting, making business deals, pinching each other's babies. They were magnificent. If this is how they behaved just going to the movies, it scares me to death what they'd be like at a wedding.

P.S. Great title.

John Corbett and Nia Vardalos: Nia: That sounds great and the scene you described sounds like a Sunday afternoon at my house.

Somewhere, USA: I laughed hysterically throughout the film. You definitely captured the, well, extraordinary sense of pride that the Greek community has --and the resistance it puts up to "foreign incursions" -- and the ultimate warmth that comes after the non-Greek has been accepted.

Thanks for making the movie, and best of luck to both of you.

John Corbett and Nia Vardalos: Nia: Thank you
John: Thank you and yiassou.

Washington, D.C.: Ok, couldn't let John go without a SATC question. Any chance you'll be back? Why can't you, Carrie and Big just all move to Utah? It was great fun watching you every Sunday night. Looking forward to getting my Aidan fix through your new movie. Cheers!

John Corbett and Nia Vardalos: John: I wouldn't mind, but Carrie told me that big herpes. So I don't want to catch that. And I like living on my own and now she's out of my hair I get to have all the fine new york ladies to myself. Signed Aidan.

Washington, D.C.: I am excited to see your movie, and I am especially excited to see Chrissy Paraskevopolous as a bridesmaid. When will your movie open in Washington, D.C.?

John Corbett and Nia Vardalos: Yes, the movie opens on Friday and Chrissy was so sweet and became a friend of mine.

washingtonpost.com: Nia and John had to run, so that ends the discussion. Thanks for joining us.

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