Irene Papas stood out, among other things, for her performance in the Greek film ‘Zorba the Greek’ and left her mark with a cast of famous actors, prominently Anthony Quinn.
The famous actress had portrayed the widow and received rave reviews for her performance.
The film Zorba the Greek, directed by Michalis Kakogiannis, is based on the book by Nikos Kazantzakis: "Life and the State of Alexis Zorbas". The music was composed by Mikis Theodorakis and the film won three Academy Awards:
- Oscar for Best Actress in Lila Centerova.
- Art Direction Oscar (for black and white film) to Vassilis Fotopoulos.
- Oscar for Photography (for black and white film) to Walter Lasalle.
The iconic Alexis Zorbas was once again played by Yiannis Stankoglou.
The ambitious show, directed by Yiannis Kakleas and staged by him and Gerasimos Evangeliatos, was staged at the "Theatron" of the "Hellenic World" Cultural Center.
Alongside Yiannis Stankoglou is Olia Lazaridou who embodies the role of Madame Ortans, Emilianos Stamatakis in the role of the author, Ivan Svitailos in the role of Mavrantonis, Iliana Mavromatis in the role of the widow and a large troupe of talented actors and dancers.
Papas gained international recognition starring in classic 1960s films, but has sadly passed away, Greece's culture ministry said on Wednesday.
Papas enjoyed a 50-year film career capped by John Madden's "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" in 2001 alongside Hollywood stars Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz, and Manoel de Oliveira's "A Talking Picture" in 2003, her final performance alongside Catherine Deneuve and John Malkovich.
"Zorba the Greek", a smash hit in 1964, in which she starred alongside Anthony Quinn and Alan Bates, captivated international audiences with its soundtrack - especially "Zorba's Dance" - composed by Mikis Theodorakis.
Papas also collaborated with late composer Vangelis on folk song album Odes and on 666, the final studio album of Greek progressive rock band Aphrodite's Child.
"Majestic, stately, dynamic, Irene Papas was the personification of Greek beauty on cinema screens and on the stage, an international star who radiated Greekness," Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said in a statement.
"With the power of her talent and the charm of her personality, she conquered the world of cinema and theatre."
Papas suffered from Alzheimer's disease in recent years according to Greek media. The culture ministry did not say when she died.
She was born in a village outside Corinth on the Peloponnese peninsula to a family of teachers; her father taught classical drama.
Among her biggest early successes was the title role in 1962's "Electra", a cinematic transcription of Euripides' ancient Greek tragedy directed by Michalis Cacoyannis.
She played a Greek island resistance fighter against Nazi occupation in "The Guns of Navarone" and a young widowed woman on the island of Crete in "Zorba the Greek".
Her liberal political views forced her into exile in Italy and the United States in 1967-1974, when a far-right military junta ruled Greece.
With her long dark hair, pale skin and thick arched eyebrows, Papas became a symbol of Mediterranean beauty.
Married twice, Papas told Italy's Corriere della Sera daily in 2004 that "the passion of her life" was the Oscar-winning screen star Marlon Brando, whom she met for the first time in 1954 in Rome and for the last time in 1999 in Athens.
READ MORE: Irene Papas: Her passionate love affair with Marlon Brando.
