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Kanakaredes Drawn To 'New York' By Her Character

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Oct 14 - Review: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation--'For Warrick'
The team is stunned by the loss of one of their own in the show's ninth season opener.

Oct 14 - This 'Wrecking Crew' Leaves A Path Of Destruction
A man is taken out before he can testify in front of a grand jury in the sixth episode of 'Miami'. Major spoilers inside!

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A woman falls to her death, and an old case resurfaces on 'CSI'. Full transcript inside.

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The beginning--and the end--of Grissom's time on 'CSI'. Contains spoilers.

Oct 12 - 'Raging Cannibal' & 'The Happy Place' Official Details
'Miami' encounters the Russian mob, and 'CSI' looks into criminal uses for hypnotism. Official plot details and cast lists inside.

Oct 12 - Ratings Round-Up
The 'CSI' premiere knocks out the competition. 'Miami' and 'New York' also win their timeslots.

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Smith talks about her character's relationship with the team and looking professional. Contains spoilers.

Oct 11 - Shankar: He's Reassessing Himself
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The 'CSI: NY' executive producer teases season five and discusses the big upcoming development for Danny and Lindsay. Spoilers inside!

Oct 9 - Review: CSI: New York--'Turbulence'
A routine flight to Washington, D.C. proves to be anything but when Mac Taylor finds the flight attendants standing around the dead body of a man in one of the plane's bathrooms.

Oct 8 - Interview: David Berman
'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation''s newest regular shares his thoughts on David Phillips' evolution, Grissom's departure, his duties as head researcher on the show and who he'd like to play David's wife.

Oct 9 - She's A 'Saucy, Sarcastic, Sassy' New Scientist
Smith talks about her character and joining 'CSI'. Contains spoilers.

Oct 9 - Helgenberger: It's The Sum Of Its Parts
Two 'CSI' stars talk about season nine and why the show has lasted so long. Spoilers inside.

Oct 8 - Review: CSI: Miami--'Won't Get Fueled Again'
The Miami team is called in to investigate when a burning man crashes a swanky beach party; ME Tara Price signs on for duty.

Oct 7 - Buckley: First I Have A Panic Attack
The 'New York' actor talks about using scientific terms and getting recognized around the world.

By Kristine
July 27, 2004 - 10:14 PM

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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Why can't the CSIs get dates?

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