Melina Mercouri

Biography

Melina Mercouri, born Maria Amalia Mercouri in Athens in 1920, was a prominent Greek actress, singer, and politician. She was the daughter of Stamatis Mercouris, a former cavalry officer and politician, and Eirini Lappa from a notable Athenian family. Mercouri graduated from the National Theatre's Drama School in 1944 and began her acting career with the National Theatre of Greece. She gained international recognition for her role in the film Never on Sunday (1960), for which she received the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival and an Academy Award nomination. Mercouri's other notable films include Phaedra (1962) and Topkapi (1964). In addition to her film career, she starred on Broadway in Illya Darling (1967) and received a Tony Award nomination. Mercouri also served in the Greek Parliament and was an advocate for cultural heritage. She passed away in 1994.