Legendary actress Irene Papas, star of “Zorba the Greek,” dies

He rose to fame for starring in other iconic films such as “The Guns of Navarone”, “Electra”, nominated for an Oscar.
The Greek actress Irene Papas died this Wednesday at the age of 96, as announced by the Greek Ministry of Culture.

During her career of more than 50 years she dedicated herself to both cinema and theater, in which her important roles established her internationally as the “great lady of Greek theater”, in addition to becoming the Hellenic symbol of beauty and Mediterranean culture. .

Papas was born in 1926 in a village near Corinth, although her family moved to Athens when she was seven years old, and at fifteen she began her career as a radio actress, singer and dancer.

Already in the 1950s she played Greek heroines such as Antigone at the National Theater of Greece and on the big screen, which earned her critical acclaim.

Irene Papas starred in at least 70 films.
Irene Papas starred in at least 70 films. Photo: @maiteximenez

However, his fame was not catapulted to the international scene until his performance in “The Guns of Navarone” (1961), “Electra” (1962) and “Zorba, the Greek” (Alexis Zorbas, 1964), which were nominated for the Oscar Awards.

But fame did not save him from exile. In 1967, a military dictatorship began in Greece that the actress rejected, which is why she went first to Italy and then to New York along with other artists.

During her exile both in Rome and in Hollywood she continued her work as an actress, and collaborated with directors such as Franco Zeffirelli, Franco Rossi and Costas Gavras.

She even had a love relationship with the famous actor Marlon Brando and, after his death, the actress confessed that he was the love of her life.

After the fall of the military junta in 1974, Irenes Papas was able to return to her country, and in 1995 she was decorated with the insignia of the Order of the Phoenix, awarded to her by the then president of the Hellenic Republic, Kostís Stefanópulos.

In 2018 he announced that he had been suffering from Alzheimer’s for five years.

The Greek actress has participated in more than 70 films, giving her great prestige in the world of cinema and theater.

EFE

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