Nia Vardalos Gets Into Drag
In 2002, Nia Vardalos lived Hollywood's version of a Cinderella story.
Her semi-autobiographical film, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," was produced by two A-list fairy godparents, Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks. It eventually became the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time and earned Vardalos an Academy Award nomination.
This Friday, Vardalos is back on the big screen in the new comedy, "Connie and Carla." She actually wrote this film before "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" was produced.
In "Connie and Carla," Vardalos plays one part of a duo who dreams of stardom. But, the small-town girls aren't making progress in their singing careers. And, to make matters worse, they witness a murder.
To save their lives, they head to Los Angeles, Vardalos explains to The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm, "We think that there isn't any dinner theater there, so, of course, the criminals won't be looking for us in Los Angeles. While there, we see a drag show and get an idea. The next day, we fool everybody. They think we're men dressed as women, but we're really women dressed as men dressed as women."
But trying to keep their secret is hard work, especially when Connie (Vardalos) meets Jeff (David Duchovny).
Having had a lot of experience in musical theater, Vardalos says she just wanted to sing, and this film is a dream come true.
She says, "I wrote in every song I wanted to sing, and got to do it." She also wrote a part for Debbie Reynolds, who appears in the film.
"Unbelievable! She came. I love Debbie Reynolds and I love Barbara Streisand and Shirley Jones, all of them. But Debbie Reynolds is the only one who had a dinner theater so 'Connie and Carla' idolized her."
Vardalos notes, the film is not a departure from "Greek Wedding." The message is all about self- acceptance, no matter who you are, a man or a woman.
She says, "It's the same movie, to tell you the truth. The secret is I have written the same script twice and managed to sell it. I wanted the audience of 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' to know that I honor and respect them, and I want them to come with me to this film. This movie is for everybody, once again, and it is the same movie: Trust your family. They're the only ones you got. Love that body, it's the only one you've got. Follow your dream and sing a show tune."
Some facts about Nia Vardalos: