Kanakaredes Drawn To 'New York' By Her Character

Melina Kanakaredes said that a big part of her motivation for taking the role of Stella Bonasera in CSI: New York was the promise of a rich background and development for her character.

"I wanted to know from Anthony [Zuiker] that there would be specific character stuff... that gives me something to do other than, 'There's a fiber,'" the actress told the Akron Beacon Journal. For his part, Zuiker, CSI: New York's executive producer and creator of the original CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, was happy to accomodate her. "She is the most beautiful, talented actress I have ever seen, barring the amazing actresses we already have,'' he said. "She has got just a wonderful spirit."

Kanakaredes already knows her character has something in common with Mac Taylor, played by Gary Sinise. Mac lost his wife in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centers; Stella is haunted by memories of her father's death. "They've worked together for about 8 ½ years,'' Zuiker said of Mac and Stella. "She was born in Queens, she's the oldest of four daughters. Her father died a very traumatic death, and she actually walked in on her father's death at a very young age."

Kanakaredes was working on developing a project of her own for CBS when she was tapped by CBS CEO Les Moonves himself for the role of Stella Bonasera. "It was really a compliment from him to offer this to me because [CSI: New York] was his one sure thing," Kanakaredes said of Moonves.

Zuiker is looking forward to writing the character of Stella as much as Kanakaredes is looking forward to playing her. "She is the Statue of Liberty, actually the living version of that,'' he said of the character. "She represents the pillar of strength for the unit. And she's the type of woman who is a sexual creature by nature and wears her emotions on her sleeve and doesn't hold anything back. That's an interesting character to write."

To read the complete story in which Kanakaredes discusses some of her pre-CSI: New York projects, please visit the Akron Beacon Journal.

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