Nia Vardalos will host this year’s Audie Awards Gala, the Audio Publishers Association announced in a news release.
The Audies are given annually to recognize “distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment.”
Vardalos, the Canadian actor, screenwriter, and director, first gained fame with her 2002 film My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which became a blockbuster hit and spawned two sequel films and a television spinoff.
She is the creator and star of an original audio comedy series, Motivated!, and the author of a memoir, Instant Mom; she narrated the audio version of the book.
Sean McManus, the president of the Audio Publishers Association, praised Vardalos, saying, “In her capable hands, the evening promises to be a celebration honoring the brilliant voices that bring beloved stories to life.”
Vardalos said in a statement, “I’m thrilled to celebrate the incredible talents who evoke profound emotions and transport us to different worlds. It’s great to be a part of the evening recognizing the brilliant artists creating the best and future of audio storytelling.”
Nominees for this year’s Audie Awards include narrators Meryl Streep, Bono, Michelle Williams, Ethan Hawke, Michelle Obama, and Patrick Stewart. The winners of the prizes will be announced at a ceremony on March 4 at Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles; the event will be livestreamed on the Audio Publishers Association’s YouTube channel.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
