“Ugliness, authoritarianism, hysteria” were some of the characteristics he attributed to his personality. Petru Philippidis actress Evelina Papulia in her testimony before the Ministry of Defense that the leader of the group is on trial for the sexual assault of three of their colleagues.

The actress, referring to the indisputable talent of the accused colleague, testified in court about the course of their professional relationship, which, after specific incidents, was terminated by her decision.

According to an eyewitness, Philippides experienced a horrific change in behavior that slowly escalated: “I heard that he was beating, that he was circling over his genitals. I heard about the accident with the car and the girl, and I said, “So many things fell off.” According to Ms Papulia, “Philippidis could not be awakened by anyone. His family supported him. He was supported by his talent, not the man. They did not understand to what extent his condition had reached.

Recounting her experience with the defendant, the witness mentioned that they first worked together in 1996-1997 when she filled in for her actress friend. “I have to admit that he worked very hard during the three days of rehearsals. He was positive with me and protective. I felt comfortable. Along the way, I saw that it was changing. It changed, the situation changed,” said Ms Papoulia, who then described “a fact that shocked me because I had never experienced this before in my life.”

According to the witness, while she was at the scene, the accused essentially “dropped his pants. I’m shocked. I try to keep playing. I didn’t react, I didn’t say anything. It happened again in the same way. Maybe there was a third one.” These incidents, Ms Papoulia testified, were followed by an attempt by Petros Philippidis to “squeeze her into his dressing room”, which the witness avoided: “I push him, but he’s like, ‘Ha ha.’ He realized that he could not continue. The next day he came into my dressing room, I told him to come out to get ready. Then the cooperation was completed.

According to an eyewitness, the fact that they stepped into the lines helped and repaired their relationship as “I recognized his vulgarity, his authoritarianism and, of course, his talent. We could work together professionally. We worked together again on Once Upon a Time and it was perfect. If I had only met him there, I would have told you that he is wonderful, and I would have said: “What did these girls do to him!”. After that, we collaborated on Raising Babi. There I met a new person again. In constant hysterics, tense throughout the set. Approximately in 2001-2002.

The witness testified that their relationship broke down when she realized, when they were going to teach at the theater department of the IEC, that he spoke about her in a derogatory way: “He was talking to the director, and he began to belittle me. I read his lips. He told him “where and where does Evelina teach?” He laughed and mocked me. She walks over to where I’m sitting alone. He kindly says to me “how are you, Evelina?”. I cursed him to his face. We enter the hall and he began to knit my praise! I think that Paxinou has not heard such words! That’s where it ended for me. I said I wouldn’t work with him again.”

Source: RES