Name: Melina Kanakaredes

Date of Birth: April 23, 1967

Hometown: Akron, Ohio

Facts: Melina Kanakaredes starred for five seasons as Dr. Sydney Hansen on the NBC-TV critically acclaimed series “Providence” (1999). For her performance, Melina received the 2000 TV Guide Award for Favorite Actress in a Drama (as voted by more than one million TV viewers) and was nominated for the same award in 2001. In 2003, she gave birth to her second child, took to the stage as Sally Bowles in the Broadway play Cabaret and shot the indie film Into the Fire (2005) (TV) which will debut at the 2004 Tribecca Film Festival. In the fall of 2004, she will return to television in the much anticipated CBS series “CSI: NY” (2004) opposite Gary Sinise. Melina Kanakaredes is a second-generation Greek-American who was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. Her love of musical theater, especially the work of Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera, inspired her as a child. She began performing locally; singing with her sisters and making her acting debut at age eight in the community theater production of “Tom Sawyer.”

What I have seen her in: CSI: NY

What you might have seen her in: Carts, Bleeding Hearts, The Guiding Light, Due South, New York News, NYPD Blue, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Leaving L.A., The Practice, Dangerous Beauty, Oz, Rounders, Saint Maybe, 15 Mintues, Providence, CSI: NY, CSI: Miami, Into the Fire

Who she is playing: Athena

What I think about her playing the role: Melina will play Athena pretty well. She is Greek which just adds to her character. She looks like a mom, too. I think she’ll play a great Goddess and mother to Annabeth.

What do you think about Melina playing Athena? Add a comment below.