Actress Irini Pappa passed away this morning (September 14) at the age of 96, leaving us a great legacy of her performances.

A simple, archaic, Doric figure, a symbol of Greek beauty, a well-known representative of the Mediterranean culture abroad, a charismatic and dynamic woman, Irini Pappa has become world famous for her acting skills and her spirit.

In her career, she has played important female roles in theater and cinema, fully embodying the power of ancient tragedy.

Irini Papa (real name Irini Leleku) was born on September 3, 1926 in Chiliomodi, Corinthia, where she spent her childhood. Her parents were teachers and she had three sisters. Adolescence caught her in Athens for acting classes at the National School of Classical Theatre. At the age of 15, she already embarked on her creative path, having worked as a radio producer, singer and dancer. At the age of 18, she married the writer Alka Papas, and although their marriage did not last long, the actress retained the surname by which she became known throughout the world.

With her first steps on stage, she participated in productions of the National Theater. Her unique talent and superb performance of ancient tragedies such as Medea and Elektra soon made her famous. The love and respect of the actress for the old drama were great. When she decided to stop playing such roles, she stated in an interview with the Avenir newspaper from Rome: “I decided that I would no longer act, because the tragedy entails a huge responsibility. And the fear of not being able to cope would make me feel really bad.”

In her senior year, Alekos Sakellarios saw her perform in Macbeth. He himself asked her to go for a checkup. And although it was diametrically opposed to her and her classical education, she agreed. Her film debut was in 1948 in Lost Angels, directed by Nikos Ciforou. In 1951, The Dead State by Frixos Iliadis was released with Giorgos Fundas in one of the main roles. The film enters the Cannes Film Festival, and everyone is speechless, they recognize this new face as having a uniqueness.

In 1962, he collaborated with Michalis Kakoyannis and starred in the film adaptation of Euripides’ Elektra, along with Giannis Fertis, Aleka Katselis and Manos Katrakis. The film received 24 awards and accolades in total, including Best Screenplay and Soundtrack awards at the Cannes Film Festival (1962).

Irini Papa has taken part in more than 80 films with filming all over the world (Chinatown, Hollywood, Yugoslavia, Lebanon, Morocco, Brazil, Australia, Portugal, etc.) with her colleagues, among others, Marlon Brando, Yves Montand, Gregory Peck , Anthony Quinn, Richard Burton, Gian Maria Volode, James Cagney. In addition to successful adaptations of tragedies, her most famous films are the unforgettable Hollywood blockbuster The Guns of Navarone, where she plays the role of the fighter Maria Papademo (1961), and Alexis Zorbas, playing the role of The Widow (1964).

Her expressive gaze, clear facial lines, the features of the Caryatid, the name that has haunted her throughout her career, and her vibrant personality captivate international audiences and American producers. For a film starring the late Anthony Quinn, journalists of the time “praise” and “praise” her for her acting. The actress herself stated about the roles she chose: “I never wanted to play sensual roles or roles of desirable women. What I’ve always wanted to do is play myself, which is to say, an independent fighter.”

One success after another, and Irini Papa has been in the spotlight of international cinema for many decades. Her hard work and talent was confirmed by Kostas Gavras’ film “Z” in 1969, which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

Her theatrical debut on Broadway took place in 1967 with the play “That Summer, That Fall” with Ion Voight (Angelina Jolie’s father), later she played Helen in “Trojans” (1972) and Clytemnestra in “Iphigenia” (1977). ) directed by Michalis Kakoyannis. In “Trojans”, filmed in English with foreign actors, the Pope met his co-star Katharine Hepburn, who played Hekaba, with whom they developed a strong friendship. In fact, Hepburn publicly declared that dad is one of the best movie actresses.

In 1972, he appears with the later Oscar-winning Greek composer Vangelis Papathanasiou. He convinces her to try her singing skills. Irini Papa records with him “666”, the latest album of the musical group “Child of Aphrodite”, with references to the “Apocalypse of John” and the lyrical contribution of director Kostas Ferris. This is followed by two more collaborations with Vangelis Papatanasiou: “Odes” with Greek folk songs arranged by Vangelis and “Rhapsody” with hymns of Holy Week.

Irini Papa’s connections with the Italian public date back to the 60s, when the Greek actress starred in international productions with a strong Greek flair. In 1968 came the role of Penelope in Franco Rossi’s Odyssey for Italian television. Her presence in the hugely popular series has made her a symbol of Greek beauty. The connections were strengthened by the participation of Irini Papa in theatrical and television productions in Italy.

Irini Papa’s contribution to art has been repeatedly recognized both in Greece and abroad thanks to the countless awards she has received from time to time. In addition to the Oscar, which she received in 1969 for her role in the film “Z” by Kostas Zavras, she received many important awards. In 1995, the President of the Hellenic Republic, Kostis Stephanopoulos, awarded him the Medal of Brigadier General of the Order of the Phoenix. In 2000, she was awarded the title of “Woman of Europe” for her contribution to the promotion of European cultural identity.

In 2008, he was awarded the “International Cultural Prize” by Premio Roma at the ancient theater of Ostia Antica, a few kilometers from the Italian capital. This is an extremely honorary award, as in the past this award has been given to pontiffs and the mayor of Rome, Walter Veltroni, among others. As she took the stage to receive her award, she said with obvious emotion, “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, I can only say that Athens will always be my mother, but Rome, at the same time, is my second mother.” , by my clear choice.”

In 2009, the Greek actress was awarded the “Golden Lion” of the 40th Venice Theater Biennale at the suggestion of the director of the event, the famous director Maurizio Scaparro. Thanking her for the award, she stressed that she “prefers to be provided with the necessary financial means to be able to continue to create in the field of theater.” Referring to an ancient tragedy, she emphasized: “These works touched me from the age of twelve. I still think it’s as relevant as ever, a mirror of our society and all its contradictions.”

That same year, Irini Papa was among 260 artists from all over the world invited by Pope Benedict to the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel to ask them to “transmit the message of God through their art.”

In the “School of Athens – Irini Papa” (where the Drama School of the National Theater is located today) on Piraeus Street, where the great actress dreamed of founding a theater school since the 80s, her birthday was celebrated in September 2018. The Italian Educational Institute, together with the National Theater of Greece and the Cacoyannis Foundation, at the Greek-Italian celebration with the screening of the film The Odyssey (1968) by Franco Rossi – a production of Paradise, with her as Penelope.

With information from APE-MPE.