Born in Australia to Greek parents, Kaliopi spent her formative years in Adelaide, where she was primarily raised by her mother following her parents' divorce when she was a child. Kaliopi's academic pursuits led her to the prestigious Emily MacPherson School Of Fashion Design at RMIT University in Melbourne, where she graduated with Honours. During her second year, she won the Fashion Industries of Australia Award for most innovative student, and her fashion label earned her a finalist spot in the Young Achiever's Awards.
Kaliopi's fashion career was put on hold when she won a scholarship from the Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Trust to study at the Academia in Florence, Italy. It was during her time abroad that she met her future husband, who proposed to her after just four days. Kaliopi agreed to marry him after completing her studies, and the couple embarked on a series of adventures together, including scuba diving in the Solomon Islands, trekking through remote regions of Australia and the US, and following the paths of the 2nd and 3rd crusaders through Europe.
The couple eventually settled in California, where they immersed themselves in different cultural practices, including participating in a sacred Native American Shaman's Sweat lodge ceremony. This exposure to various mindsets sparked Kaliopi's interest in exploring different cultural perspectives and how they shape our world.
Kaliopi's transition into acting began in San Francisco, where she studied with The Actor's Studio lifetime member Rob Reece. She was soon represented by "Stars, The Agency" and scored roles in independent films and TV series, including "Bold and The Beautiful" and "Nash Bridges," opposite Don Johnson. Her performance as The Countess in "Nash Bridges" was particularly notable.
Kaliopi's love for Shakespeare was inspired by her lecturer Fiona Shaw at the British American Drama Academy. She went on to perform with the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival and Napa Valley Shakespeare Festival, playing her favorite role as Kate in "Taming of The Shrew."
After giving birth to her daughter, Kaliopi returned to Australia to study Film Production, earning an Honours Degree of Bachelor of Creative Arts from Flinders University. She directed and produced a short documentary, "Without Permission," about an Aboriginal elder who exposed the truth about stolen Aboriginal remains. The documentary won the Best Documentary award at the South Australian Screen Awards in 2007, and her work with indigenous communities in Northern California and South Australia earned her a shortlist spot for the Inside Film Awards' independent spirit award.
