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Vardalos, who received an Oscar nomination for best screenplay and a Golden Globe nomination for best actress for the film, also commented on the mixed reactions it received.

\"People full of love loved it, and again some were snide, hateful,\" Vardalos said.

The film, produced by Wilson, her husband Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, ended up grossing $368 million worldwide.

\"PHOTO:
Gold Circle Films
PHOTO: A poster of the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."
>

She expanded on the opportunities the film brought for her career and the success she went on to have.

\"I was nominated 🏆 for everything, went on to write and act in films that make people happy, employed hundreds of people, wrote and performed a New York Times Critics Pick play which has been licensed hundreds of times, wrote a bestselling book whose proceeds get children adopted,\" she summarized.

She also shared her takeaway from the film's initial rejection and what she went through to bring it to the big screen.

\"Some people who don’t create anything including jobs to make situations better, will tell you that what you do is wrong,\" she says she learned. \"You can’t make anyone embrace change, marginalized voices or new ideas. So love yourself. And write your story. ✏️\"

The film's sequel, \"My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2,\" was released in 2016, and Vardalos confirmed last year that she has written a third film for the series, called \"My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3.\"

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