Actress Irene Papas Wins International Award

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Another international award will complete the collection of international distinctions for the renowned actress Irene Papas, who will receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 40th International Theatre Festival of the Venice Biennale on February 20. The Board of Directors of the Venice Biennale chose Papas upon recommendation of Director Maurizio Scaparro “for being one of Europe’s most famous artists who over her 50-year career has played important female roles in theatre and in film (many in classical tragedy), becoming, in the eyes of the world, the spokeswoman and symbol of the Mediterranean culture, the very incarnation of the power of Greek tragedy.” Irene Papas was born in 1926 and began her career in Greece (she was discovered by Elia Kazan), achieving widespread fame there, before starring in internationally renowned films such as “The Guns of Navarone,” (video) “Zorba the Greek” , Costas Gavras’ “Z” , and recent ones such as “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin” .

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Irene Papas Honoured in Rome

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Veteran Greek actress Irene Papas was honoured with the “Rome Prize” on July 14 at the Ostia Antica ancient theatre outside the Italian capital.  Excerpts of the actress’ well-known films were shown before the presentation ceremony. “I do not know whether I should laugh or cry, I can only say that Athens will always be my mother, but Rome is at the same time my second mother, by my own choice,” Papas said. Culture Minister Mihalis Liapis, who paid an official visit to to Rome, attended the ceremony.