Actress Dimitra Matsouka, one of Greece’s most recognisable television and theatre figures, was arrested late on Wednesday night in Vouliagmeni after a traffic stop uncovered multiple violations, including speeding, driving without a valid licence and operating a vehicle without licence plates. Known for her acclaimed roles in popular Greek series and her long-standing presence on stage, the 51-year-old now faces three misdemeanour charges following the incident.
According to the Traffic Police, the arrest took place shortly before midnight on Athinas Street. Officers recorded Matsouka travelling at 97 kilometres per hour in an area with a maximum speed limit of 50. During the inspection, police found that the vehicle had no licence plates and that Matsouka’s driving licence had been revoked in early October for a separate violation. The licence plates had also been removed by the Athens Traffic Directorate on 16 November.
An alcohol test at the scene registered measurements of 0.42 mg/l and 0.38 mg/l, above the legal limit of 0.25 mg/l of exhaled air. Matsouka was taken into custody and transferred to the local Traffic Police department for further processing.
A misdemeanour prosecution has since been filed against her for three offences: dangerous driving, driving a vehicle with removed licence plates and driving while her licence was revoked. She is expected to appear before the Summary Misdemeanour Court.
Matsouka has since offered her own explanation. Speaking via text message to ANT1’s morning programme "To Proino", she claimed the situation stemmed from administrative complications rather than intentional wrongdoing.
According to journalist Panos Katsaridis, Matsouka maintained that her licence plates had been taken on Sunday, 16 November, following a parking violation dating back to September. She said she returned home by taxi that day and left the vehicle parked. After two days off from theatre commitments, she attempted to move the car home on Wednesday night after her performance.
She also stated that her driving licence had not been “taken away”, but temporarily held due to the earlier parking matter. Presenters raised questions about the consistency of this explanation when compared with official police documentation noting the licence revocation in October.
Public attention has also returned to a 2018 incident when Matsouka was involved in a collision while her vehicle was uninsured. Reports at the time alleged she attempted to flee, which she strongly denied in a detailed Facebook statement. She claimed she was confronted by an aggressive bystander and insisted that she never attempted to avoid responsibility. The only detail she acknowledged as accurate was that her insurance had lapsed due to her extended theatre engagements in Thessaloniki.
The 2018 episode has resurfaced in media coverage, although it is unrelated to the current legal proceedings.
Following her arrest, Matsouka faces formal charges and forthcoming court proceedings. Authorities have confirmed the absence of licence plates, the revocation of her driving licence and the results of the alcohol breath test as central factors in the case.
Further developments are expected once a court date is finalised.
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