‘I think that as things happen to us our lives change a little bit’

One of action oriented broadcaster AXN’s most successful franchises is Crime Scene investigation (CSI). The show, which sees forensic experts solving crimes, has enabled the the broadcaster to attract women to it.

Now the channel is airing the second spinoff CSI NY on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 pm. It stars among others Melina kanakarades as detective Stella Bonasera.

Kanakaredes was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. Her love of musical theater, especially the work of Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera, inspired her as a child. She began performing locally; singing with her sisters and making her acting debut at age eight in the community theater production of Tom Sawyer. In this quick tete-a-tete Kanakarades talks about CSI: NY

We are given to understand you are Greek. Can you tell us about your background?
Actually I am from the second generation Greek American. I am from Northern Greece, this place called Naoussa where they make all the wines. But as kid I used to visit Greece every year. Basically I come from a close knit family.

How old do you think one should be to see CSI New York?
I think it depends on ones family. The series are a little too dark.

What about the story as far as CSI: New York? Do you think your life has changed in a way?
I think that as things happen to us our lives change a little bit. You know the people that you meet, the experiences that you have change you. It’s been positive. It’s been really positive.

How realistic are the tools and the methods used on the show?
Everything is real. I never knew we had the capability of doing corneal imaging.

For instance if you walk into a liquor or a high-end jewelry shop and they have cameras, and you, the robber, look into that camera, they can freeze frame the camera and take an image off of your eye of the person that you are looking at.

Why do you think people are so interested in the whole concept of crime scene investigation?
It is compelling when you have science that used to be so straight. I think it’s something that through the way they shoot it and the way it’s — the mystery is — compelling to find the answer, and I think it’s changing along with the times as well.

This is our first season. I know that we are going to know more about these characters, and there’s going to be much more of a meshing between character and science next season.

Tells us about your husband Anthony? Anthony is the most energetic person I have ever met in my life. He is very charismatic and he can sell the moon and tell you it’s in his back pocket. Anthony is extremely humble.

Tell us some fun stuff that goes behind the scenes?
Sure. In fact, I bring my girls with me every day to work. So when we are in the middle of a very intense investigation or, have one person who has half his head blown off, it’s like, my daughter who is four and a half will say, “Gary, time for tea.”

And he has to sit and put his legs in Indian style, and we drink tea. So those are some of my strange moments, but we have a great group of people just actors and crew. It’s a wonderful family. You spend more time with these people than you do with your own family sometimes. So it’s just been fun.