In My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the main character's first name is Toula. Her full name is Fotoula “Toula” Portokalos, and she is played by writer Nia Vardalos. Toula is a Greek American woman living in Chicago who feels pressured by her large, traditional family to marry within the Greek community.
The story changes when Toula meets Ian Miller, an English schoolteacher played by John Corbett. Their relationship forces both of them to navigate cultural expectations, family traditions, and the differences between Toula's extended Greek family and Ian's more reserved parents. The film's humor comes largely from this culture clash, but its emotional core is Toula's growing independence.
Released in 2002, the movie grew from Vardalos's one-woman stage show and became a major independent-film success. It was directed by Joel Zwick and produced by Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, and Gary Goetzman. Viewers sometimes remember the family names—Portokalos or Miller—instead of Toula, or confuse her with supporting characters such as her cousin Nikki.