Irene Papas
Irene Papas or Irene Pappas (Greek: Ειρήνη Παππά; born 3
September 1926) is a retired Greek actress and occasional singer, who
has starred in over 70 films in a career spanning more than 50 years.
She became famous in Greece, and then an international star of feature
films such as The Guns of Navarone and Zorba the Greek. She was a
powerful presence as a Greek heroine in films including The Trojan
Women, Iphigenia, and played the eponymous parts in Antigone (1961)
and Electra (1962).
Papas won Best Actress awards in 1961 at the Berlin International Film
Festival for Antigone and in 1971 from the National Board of Review
for The Trojan Women. She received career awards in 1993, the Golden
Arrow Award at Hamptons International
Film
Film Festival, and in 2009, the
Golden Lion Award at the Venice Biennale.
Contents
1 Personal life
2
Film
Film career
3 Theatre career
4 Singing
5 Politics
6 Awards and honours
7 Filmography
8 References
9 External links
Personal life[edit]
Papas was born as Irini Lelekou (Ειρήνη Λελέκου) in
Chiliomodi, outside Corinth, Greece. Her mother was a schoolteacher,
and her father taught classical drama.[1] She was educated at the
Royal School of Dramatic Art in Athens, taking classes in dance and
singing.[2] She serves on the board of directors of the Anna-Marie
Foundation.[3] She stated in an interview that her father was of
Arvanite Greek descent.[4]
Film
Film career[edit]
Papas in a publicity still for The Trojan Women (1971)
Papas began her film career in Greece, being discovered by Elia Kazan,
and achieved widespread fame there. She then starred in
internationally renowned films such as The Guns of Navarone (1961) and
Zorba the Greek (1964), and critically acclaimed films such as Z
(1969). She was a leading figure in cinematic transcriptions of
ancient tragedy, portraying Helen in The Trojan Women (1971) opposite
Katharine Hepburn,
Clytemnestra
Clytemnestra in Iphigenia (1977), and the eponymous
parts in Antigone (1961) and Electra (1962).[5] She appeared as
Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon in Anne of the Thousand Days, opposite Richard
Burton and
Geneviève Bujold
Geneviève Bujold in 1969. In 1976, she starred in
Mohammad, Messenger of God
Mohammad, Messenger of God (also known as The Message) about the
origin of Islam, and the message of Mohammad. In 1982, she appeared in
Lion of the Desert, together with Anthony Quinn, Oliver Reed, Rod
Steiger, and John Gielgud. One of her last film appearances was in
Captain Corelli's Mandolin in 2001.[6][2]
The Treccani Enciclopedia Italiana describes Papas as a typical
Mediterranean beauty, with a lovely voice both in singing and acting,
greatly talented and with an adventurous spirit.[2]
In the view of film critic Philip Kemp, Papas was an awe-inspiring
presence, which paradoxically limited her career. He admired her roles
in the films of Michael Cacoyannis, including the defiant Helen of
Troy in The Trojan Women; the vengeful, grief-stricken
Clytemnestra
Clytemnestra in
Iphigenia; and "memorably"[5] as the cool but sensual widow in Zorba
the Greek.[5]
The film critic
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert observed that there were many "pretty
girls" in cinema "but not many women", and called Papas a great
actress. Ebert noted her uphill struggle, her height limiting the
leading men she could play alongside, her accent limiting the roles
she could take, and "her unusual beauty is not the sort that superstar
actresses like to compete with."[7] Ordinary actors, he suggested, had
trouble sharing the screen with Papas. All the same, her presence in
many well-known movies, wrote Ebert, inspired "something of a
cult".[7]
Theatre career[edit]
Papas began her acting career in variety and traditional theatre, in
plays by Ibsen, Shakespeare, and classical Greek tragedy, before
moving into film in 1951.[2] Later in her career, she took the
eponymous role of Medea in a 1973 production of Euripides's play.
Reviewing the production in The New York Times, Clive Barnes described
her as a "very fine, controlled Medea", smouldering with a "carefully
dampened passion", constantly fierce.[8]
Singing[edit]
In 1969, the RCA label released Papas' vinyl LP, Songs of Theodorakis
(INTS 1033). This has 11 folk songs sung in Greek, conducted by Harry
Lemonopoulos and produced by Andy Wiswell, with sleeve notes in
English by Michael Cacoyannis.[9] It was released on CD in 2004 (FM
1680).[10] Papas knew
Mikis Theodorakis
Mikis Theodorakis from working with him on Zorba
the Greek[5] as early as 1964.
In 1972, she appeared on the album 666 by the Greek rock group
Aphrodite's Child
Aphrodite's Child on the track "∞" (infinity). She chants "I was, I
am, I am to come" repeatedly and wildly over a percussive backing,
causing controversy with her "graphic orgasm".[11][12]
In 1979, Polydor released her solo album of eight Greek folk songs
entitled Odes, with electronic music performed (and partly composed)
by
Vangelis
Vangelis Papathanassiou.[13] The lyrics were co-written by Arianna
Stassinopoulos.[14] They collaborated again in 1986 for Rapsodies, an
electronic rendition of seven Byzantine liturgical hymns, also on
Polydor.[15]
Politics[edit]
Papas was a member of the
Communist Party of Greece
Communist Party of Greece (KKE), and in 1967
called for a "cultural boycott" against the "Fourth Reich", meaning
the military government of Greece at that time.[16]
Awards and honours[edit]
1961: 11th Berlin International
Film
Film Festival (Best Actress, for the
film Antigone)[17]
1971:
National Board of Review
National Board of Review (Best Actress, for the film The Trojan
Women)[18]
1993: Golden Arrow Award for lifetime achievement, at Hamptons
International
Film
Film Festival[19]
2009: Leone d'oro alla carriera (Golden Lion career award), Venice
Biennale[20]
Filmography[edit]
Fallen Angels (1948 film) (Greek, "Hamenoi angeloi", 1948) as
Liana[21]
Dead City (Greek, "Nekri Politeia", 1951)[5] as Lena
Torna!
Torna! (1953)
The Man from Cairo
The Man from Cairo (1953)[5]
The Unfaithfuls
The Unfaithfuls (Italian, "Le Infideli", 1953)[5]
Dramma del Casbah (1953)[5]
Vortice[5]
Theodora, Slave Empress
Theodora, Slave Empress (Italian, "Teodora, Imperatrice di Bisanzio",
1954)[5]
Attila (1954)[5]
Tribute to a Bad Man
Tribute to a Bad Man (1956)[5]
The Power and the Prize
The Power and the Prize (1956)[5]
Climax!
Climax! (1958) (TV)
Bouboulina (1959)
The Guns of Navarone (1961) as Maria[5]
Antigone (1961)[5]
Electra (1962) as Electra[5]
The Moon-Spinners
.jpg)
The Moon-Spinners (1964) as Sophia[5]
Zorba the Greek (1964) as the widow[5]
Zeugin aus der Hölle (de) ("Witness out of Hell", 1966)[5]
Roger la Honte (1966) as Freda[5]
We Still Kill the Old Way
We Still Kill the Old Way (1967)[5]
The Desperate Ones (1967)[5]
L'Odissea
L'Odissea (1968) (TV miniseries)[5]
The Brotherhood (1968)[5]
Ecce Homo - I sopravvissuti (it) (1968)
Z (1969) as Helene[5]
A Dream of Kings (1969) as Caliope[5]
Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) as Queen Katherine[5]
Oasis of Fear
Oasis of Fear (1971)
The Trojan Women (1971) as Helen of Troy[5]
Roma Bene
Roma Bene (1971) as Elena Teopoulos[5]
1931: Once Upon a Time in New York (1972) as Donna Mimma[5]
Don't Torture a Duckling
Don't Torture a Duckling (Italian, "Non si servizia un paperino",
1972)[5]
N.P. - Il segreto (it) (1973)
The Battle of Sutjeska (1973)
I'll Take Her Like a Father
I'll Take Her Like a Father (1974)
Moses the Lawgiver
Moses the Lawgiver (Italian, "Mose", 1974) (TV miniseries) as
Zipporah[5]
Mohammad, Messenger of God
Mohammad, Messenger of God (1976) as Hind[5]
Blood Wedding (Spanish, "Bodas de Sangre", 1977)
Iphigenia (1977) as Clytemnestra[5]
Christ Stopped at Eboli (1979) as Giulia[5]
Bloodline (1979) as Simonetta Palazza[5]
Ring of Darkness (it) (1979)
Lion of the Desert
Lion of the Desert (1981) as Mabrouka[5]
L'assistente sociale tutto pepe (1981)
Eréndira (1983) as the grandmother[5]
Il disertore
Il disertore (1983) as Mariangela[5]
Melvin, Son of Alvin (1984)
Into the Night (1985) as Shaheen Parvizi[5]
The Assisi Underground (1985)
Sweet Country (1987)
Chronicle of a Death Foretold (1987)
High Season (1987)
A Child Called Jesus (1987) (TV film)
Island (1989)
Nirvana Street Murder (1990)
Jacob (1994) (TV film)
Party (1996) as Irene[5]
The Odyssey (1997) (TV miniseries) as Anticlea[5]
Anxiety ("Inquietude", 1998) as the mother[5]
Yerma (1998)[5]
Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001) as Drosoula[6]
A Talking Picture
A Talking Picture (2003) as Helena
References[edit]
^ Profile, filmreference.com; accessed 30 April 2015.
^ a b c d "PAPAS, Irene, nata Lelekou". Treccani (Enciclopedia
Italiana). 1994. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
^ "Press Conference on the developments regarding the 'Anna-Maria'
Foundation", greekroyalfamily.org, 28 August 2003.
^ "Aktorja legjendare greke: Jam shqiptare ose gjysmëshqiptare" (in
Albanian).
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae
af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar "Papas, Irene".
Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 27 February 2017. ; Kemp, Philip
(2001). "Irene Papas". International Dictionary of Films and
Filmmakers. Gale Group.
^ a b Elley, Derek (24 April 2001). "Review: 'Captain Corelli's
Mandolin'". Variety. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
^ a b Ebert, Roger (13 July 1969). "Interview with Irene Papas".
Retrieved 27 February 2017.
^ Barnes, Clive (18 January 1973). "Stage: Circle Presents New
'Medea'". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
^ "
Irene Papas
Irene Papas – Songs Of Theodorakis (RCA Victor International –
FSP-215)". Discogs. 1968. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
^ "Irene Pappas* - Sings
Mikis Theodorakis
Mikis Theodorakis (FM Records - FM 1680)".
Discogs. 2004. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
^ Dome, Malcolm (27 January 2015). "Malcolm Dome looks back on the
impact of Aphrodite's Child's mythic prog masterpiece". Retrieved 27
February 2017. The band's label, Mercury, were certainly left bemused.
In fact, they were so horrified by the scope and challenge of the
double album that they initially refused to release it. In particular,
Papas' graphic orgasm during Infinity struck the wrong chord with
them. Eventually, the company relented and agreed to put it out on
their Vertigo imprint.
^ Henshaw, Laurie (19 August 1972). "The Greeks have a word for it".
Melody Maker. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
^ "
Vangelis
Vangelis &
Irene Papas
Irene Papas - Odoes [sic]". Record Collector.
^ "
Irene Papas
Irene Papas - Odes (Polydor - 2473 109)". Discogs. Retrieved 6
March 2018.
^ "
Irene Papas
Irene Papas - Rapsodies". Vangelismovements.com. Retrieved
2016-11-13.
^ "Irene Pappas Asks Boycott Of Greece's 'Fourth Reich'". The New York
Times. 20 July 1967. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
^ "IMDB.com: Awards for Antigone". imdb.com. Retrieved
2010-01-21.
^ "Awards for 1971". National Board of Review. Archived from the
original on 16 March 2004. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
^ "Awards at Hamptons
Film
Film Festival". The New York Times. 25 October
1993. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
^ "
Irene Papas
Irene Papas Leone d' oro alla carriera". La Repubblica (in
Italian). 20 February 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2018. Noi italiani la
ricordiamo ancora come la bella Penelope dell' Odissea tv (anno 1969):
Irene Papas
Irene Papas la grande attrice greca, riceve alle 18 il Leone d' oro
alla carriera del Festival Internazionale del Teatro della Biennale di
Venezia diretto da Maurizio Scaparro dedicato al Mediterraneo che si
apre oggi. L' attrice interpreterà "Medea", nell' originale di
Euripide e nella riscrittura di Corrado Alvaro.
^ "Irene Papas". Cinemagraphe. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
External links[edit]
Irene Papas
Irene Papas on IMDb
Irene Papas
Irene Papas at the
Internet Broadway Database
Internet Broadway Database
v
t
e
National Board of Review
National Board of Review Award for Best Actress
Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford (1945)
Anna Magnani
Anna Magnani (1946)
Celia Johnson
Celia Johnson (1947)
Olivia de Havilland
Olivia de Havilland (1948)
Gloria Swanson
Gloria Swanson (1950)
Jan Sterling
Jan Sterling (1951)
Shirley Booth
Shirley Booth (1952)
Jean Simmons
Jean Simmons (1953)
Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly (1954)
Anna Magnani
Anna Magnani (1955)
Dorothy McGuire
Dorothy McGuire (1956)
Joanne Woodward
Joanne Woodward (1957)
Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman (1958)
Simone Signoret
Simone Signoret (1959)
Greer Garson
Greer Garson (1960)
Geraldine Page
Geraldine Page (1961)
Anne Bancroft
Anne Bancroft (1962)
Patricia Neal
Patricia Neal (1963)
Kim Stanley
Kim Stanley (1964)
Julie Christie
_(2).jpg/440px-Julie_Christie_(1997)_(2).jpg)
Julie Christie (1965)
Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor (1966)
Edith Evans
Edith Evans (1967)
Liv Ullmann
Liv Ullmann (1968)
Geraldine Page
Geraldine Page (1969)
Glenda Jackson
Glenda Jackson (1970)
Irene Papas
Irene Papas (1971)
Cicely Tyson
Cicely Tyson (1972)
Liv Ullmann
Liv Ullmann (1973)
Gena Rowlands
Gena Rowlands (1974)
Isabelle Adjani
Isabelle Adjani (1975)
Liv Ullmann
Liv Ullmann (1976)
Anne Bancroft
Anne Bancroft (1977)
Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman (1978)
Sally Field
Sally Field (1979)
Sissy Spacek
.jpg/440px-Sissy_Spacek_by_David_Shankbone_(cropped).jpg)
Sissy Spacek (1980)
Glenda Jackson
Glenda Jackson (1981)
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep (1982)
Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine (1983)
Peggy Ashcroft
Peggy Ashcroft (1984)
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg (1985)
Kathleen Turner
Kathleen Turner (1986)
Lillian Gish
Lillian Gish /
Holly Hunter
Holly Hunter (1987)
Jodie Foster
.jpg)
Jodie Foster (1988)
Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Pfeiffer (1989)
Mia Farrow
Mia Farrow (1990)
Geena Davis
.jpg/440px-Geena_Davis_2013_(cropped).jpg)
Geena Davis /
Susan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon (1991)
Emma Thompson
.jpg/440px-Emma_Thompson_at_2013_TIFF_1_(cropped).jpg)
Emma Thompson (1992)
Holly Hunter
Holly Hunter (1993)
Miranda Richardson
.jpg/440px-Stronger_PC_02_(37216444535).jpg)
Miranda Richardson (1994)
Emma Thompson
Emma Thompson (1995)
Frances McDormand
.jpg/440px-Frances_McDormand_2015_(cropped).jpg)
Frances McDormand (1996)
Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter (1997)
Fernanda Montenegro
Fernanda Montenegro (1998)
Janet McTeer
Janet McTeer (1999)
Julia Roberts
.jpg/440px-Julia_Roberts_(43838880775).jpg)
Julia Roberts (2000)
Halle Berry
Halle Berry (2001)
Julianne Moore
.jpg/440px-Julianne_Moore_(15011443428).jpg)
Julianne Moore (2002)
Diane Keaton
.jpg/440px-Diane_Keaton_2012-1_(cropped).jpg)
Diane Keaton (2003)
Annette Bening
Annette Bening (2004)
Felicity Huffman
Felicity Huffman (2005)
Helen Mirren
Helen Mirren (2006)
Julie Christie
Julie Christie (2007)
Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway (2008)
Carey Mulligan
Carey Mulligan (2009)
Lesley Manville
.jpg/440px-Leslie_Manville_(cropped).jpg)
Lesley Manville (2010)
Tilda Swinton
Tilda Swinton (2011)
Jessica Chastain
_(cropped).jpg/440px-SDCC_2015_-_Tom_Hiddleston_&_Jessica_Chastain_(19724874572)_(cropped).jpg)
Jessica Chastain (2012)
Emma Thompson
Emma Thompson (2013)
Julianne Moore
Julianne Moore (2014)
Brie Larson
Brie Larson (2015)
Amy Adams
_(cropped).jpg/440px-Amy_Adams_(29708985502)_(cropped).jpg)
Amy Adams (2016)
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep (2017)
Authority control
WorldCat Identities
VIAF: 87907248
LCCN: no97057570
ISNI: 0000 0001 1451 1643
GND: 123916593
SUDOC: 06380364X
BNF: cb138982291 (data)
BIBSYS: 99029287
MusicBrainz: ded5d5ce-7814-4aef-b01a-8549c3e803c1
NLA: 36022864
B
