Detective Stella Bonasera is half Greek, half Italian and all New York. She speaks her mind and does not back away from confrontation. Stella's unmatched desire to find answers for the victims of violent crime is due in part to questions about her own past. Stella is an orphan who lived a hard-knock life in "the system." Everything she knows of Greek culture, language and community, she learned in a book. Her parents and background remain a mystery. Stella's fierce independence and unflinching character led her to join the NYPD. To fellow officers, she is the Statue of Liberty, a woman standing tall with her head held high. These qualities, along with her intelligence, brashness and determination, earned her a coveted spot as a CSI alongside Mac Taylor.