Editor’s Note: Nia Vardalos became a household name when she wrote and starred in 2002’s "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." Nia now has a new movie , "My Life in Ruins," opening Friday, June 5. In it, she plays Georgia, a tour guide in Greece who loses her kefi, which is Greek for mojo. Nia recently sat down with wowOwow to talk about her new movie, the process of adoption in America – and the amazing daughter Nia now has as a result of that journey – looking great without breaking the bank and more. Read on for all of this … and a special video message from Nia for the wOw woman. 

wowOwow: Nia, how are you?

NIA VARDALOS: I’m fine. How are you?

wOw: I’m good. Last time we spoke, your new movie, "My Life in Ruins," was premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival. How was Tribeca?

NIA: It was really fun. I got to meet Robert De Niro, and that’s really all that matters.

wOw: I think at the end of the day, that is, in fact, all that matters.

NIA: Yes. And the audience went crazy for the film, which was really nice. And the coolest thing is that they really gave my co-star – his name is Alexis Georgoulis – they went nuts for him and now the press has started calling him Alex Gorgeous, which I think is apropos.

wOw: Speaking of Alexis, I read that you said he was the George Clooney of Greece.

NIA: Yes, he’s very famous in Greece.

wOw: Were you involved in his casting?

NIA: Yes.

wOw: Did you go after him specifically?

NIA: This is how we found him. We were in Greece asking the Greek government for permission to shoot at the ancient ruins. And we hadn’t really even started thinking about casting. And then we were talking to the casting director and saying, “You know, we are really committed to finding a Greek actor for this role.” And one of our producers walked up to a newsstand and was thumbing through a Greek In Style magazine – literally In Style, but the Greek version. She flipped through it, and she said, “Oh, who’s that?” And the producer said, “Oh, he is a TV actor.” And she said, “Oh, great.” And she flipped through some more and she said, “Who’s that?” And he said, “Oh, he is a stage actor.” And she flipped through some more and she said, “Oh, who’s ttthhhaaaat?” and it was Alexis’ photo The casting director said, “Oh, he’s a very famous actor in Greece.” And our producer said, “Can you put him on tape for us? We’re going to go back to Los Angeles.” So we go back to Los Angeles and the tape comes and there are lots and lots and lots of Greek actors on it. It’s a roomful of women, and we’re eating salads and watching the tape. And Alexis came onscreen and started to do the scene – the very, very important cliff scene where he tells my character that – in a subtext way – he is in love with her.

wOw: Right.

NIA: And we’re all – it was shocking. He was not only good looking – I don’t want it distilled down to that – but his presence and his acting and, yes, his gorgeousness, was, like, pulsating off the screen. And he finished the scene and we all looked at each other and we all had our forks in midair.

wOw: Oh, that’s great.

NIA: We just went, “Yaaaaaa! We found him! We found him!”

wOw: Your leading man.

NIA: Yes, and they said, “Do you want to fly to Greece and meet him?” And I said, “No. No. That’s it. I’m done. That’s the guy.” And then the director flew to Greece about two months later and took him for coffee. And the whole time Alexis didn’t even realize he had the part. So Donald [Petrie, Director] said, “We’ll shoot on this day and then we’ll shoot on this day.” And Alexis had to go, “Hold on. Excuse me. Am I in this movie?” Donald said, “Ah, yeah. You are.”