Carides was born in Sydney, Australia, to a Greek father and an English mother. An actress since the age of 12, she has won awards for her films Strictly Ballroom and Brilliant Lies from the Australian Film Institute. She is best known for her roles as Robin Spitz Swallows in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and as Cousin Nikki in My Big Fat Greek Wedding and the television show My Big Fat Greek Life. Carides also starred as the character Helena Angelopolous in the Southern Star Television show Police Rescue from 1992-1993.