My Big Fat Greek Wedding’s star Nia Vardalos files for divorce after 25 years of marriage to husband Ian Gomez.
The couple tied the knot in 1993 and have an 11-year-old daughter named Ilaria.
In a joint statement obtained by PEOPLE, the couple said, “We’ve been respectfully separated for a lengthy period of time. Our relationship became a friendship so the decision to end the marriage is completely mutual and amicable. It is our hope that decency will prevail on the reporting of this story which will soon be yesterday’s news. Thank you for respecting our privacy.”
The 55-year old actress found fame in 2002 when she stared in the highest-grossing independent film of all time, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. It was made with a budget of $5 million and grossed $368 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. A sequel followed the film in 2016.
Both Nia Vardalos and husband Ian Gomez stared in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 1 and 2 and have more recently been hosts on ABC’s reality TV show, The Great American Baking Show from 2015-2017.
In her court case, Nia stated that the reason for their divorce was down to their 'irreconcilable differences'. The pair have reportedly been separated for a year now but have only just filed for divorce.
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My Big Fat Greek Wedding’s star is also filing for joint legal and physical custody of their 11-year old adopted daughter Ilaria.
The pair struggled to become parents and after 9 years they received news that they had been matched with 3-year old Ilaria in 2008. “I am so grateful and can’t imagine my life without her,” Nia said.
Nia spoke out about her conception struggles in 2016 saying “I felt so embarrassed that I couldn’t have a biological child,” the actress said at the time, adding that wanting a child was the main reason for the 14-year gap between My Big Fat Greek Wedding and the sequel to My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is in production.
