Melina Eleni Kanakaredes Constantinides is an American actress. She is widely known for two starring roles on U.S. prime-time television drama series; playing Detective Stella Bonasera in CSI: NY and portraying Dr. Sydney Hansen in Providence. CBS confirmed in July 2010 that Kanakaredes would not be returning for the seventh season of CSI: NY. 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' grandfather, Christ Temo. She has two sisters: Cornelia "Lia" and Aretta Kanakaredes . 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.
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