Irene Papas
Biography
Irene Papas was a Greek actress and singer. Born Eirini Lelekou on September 3, 1929, in Chiliomodi, Corinth, Greece, she starred in over 70 films throughout her career spanning more than 50 years. Papas gained international recognition for her roles in films such as The Guns of Navarone, Zorba the Greek, and Z. She also played the title roles in Antigone and Electra. Papas had a fine singing voice, showcased in the 1968 recording Songs of Theodorakis. Her acting career included notable performances in films like The Trojan Women and Iphigenia. She won Best Actress awards at the Berlin International Film Festival for Antigone.
Career overview
Irene Papas was a Greek actress who began her career in the film industry. She gained international recognition through her performances in several award-winning films, including The Guns of Navarone and Zorba the Greek. Papas also appeared in other notable films, such as Z, The Trojan Women, and Iphigenia. She played the title roles in Antigone and Electra.
Papas' career spanned over 50 years, during which she starred in more than 70 films. Her performances showcased her versatility as an actress, and she demonstrated her ability to portray powerful protagonists in various roles. In addition to her acting work, Papas also showcased her singing voice in the 1968 recording Songs of Theodorakis.
Throughout her career, Papas received recognition for her performances, including a Best Actress award at the Berlin International Film Festival for her role in Antigone. Her contributions to the film industry have been notable, with a body of work that includes a wide range of films and genres.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Irene Papas.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Morceaux de Cannes (2021)
- 1821 at the Cinema (2021) as (archive footage)
- Il falso bugiardo (2008) as Self (archive footage)
- A Talking Picture (2003) as Helena
- Short Cuts (2002) as Pensioner
- Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001) as Drosoula
- ...και το τρένο πάει στον ουρανό (2001) as Elena Michailovna
- Yerma (1999) as Vieja pagana
- Inquietude (1998) as Mother
- The Odyssey (1997) as Anticleia
- Party (1996) as Irene
- Jacob (1994) as Rebekka
- Lettera da Parigi (1993) as Gina
- Un Amore Rubato (1993)
- Up, Down and Sideways (1992) as Μαρία
- Plato's Banquet (1989) as Diotime
- Oceano (1989) as Aurelia Perdomo
- Island (1989) as Marquise
- La Valise en carton (1988) as Maria Amélia, la mère de Linda
- Sacrée soirée (1987) as Self
- Chronicle of a Death Foretold (1987) as Madre de Angela
- Ein Kind mit Namen Jesus (1987) as Old Maria
- A Child Called Jesus (1987) as Old Maria
- Sweet Country (1987) as Mrs. Araya
- High Season (1987) as Penelope
- Into the Night (1985) as Shaheen Parvici
- The Assisi Underground (1985) as Mother Giuseppina
- Afghanistan For What? (1984)
- Erendira (1983) as Grandmother Amadis
- The Deserter (1983) as Mariangela
- Champs-Elysées (1982) as Self
- The Balad of Mamelouk (1982) as Mamluk's Mother
- Lion of the Desert (1981) as Mabrouka
- L'assistente sociale tutto pepe... (1981) as La Signora
- Bloodline (1979) as Simonetta Palazzi
- Christ Stopped at Eboli (1979) as Giulia Venere
- Ring of Darkness (1979) as Raffaella
- Iphigenia (1977) as Klytaimnistra
- Blood Wedding (1977) as La mère
- The Message (1976) as Hind
- Moses the Lawgiver (1976) as Zippora
- Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975) as Self
- Bambina (1974) as Raimonda Spina
- Moses the Lawgiver (1974) as Zipporah
- The Battle of Sutjeska (1973) as Borina majka
- 1931: Once Upon a Time in New York (1973) as Donna Mimma
- Don't Torture a Duckling (1972) as Dona Aurelia Avallone
- N.P. - The Secret (1972) as Casalinga
- The Murder of Julius Caesar (1972) as Calpurnia
- The Trojan Women (1971) as Helen
- Oasis of Fear (1971) as Barbara Slater
- Roma bene (1971) as Elena Teopoulos
- The Odyssey (1969) as Penelope
- Z (1969) as Hélène
- Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) as Queen Catherine
- A Dream of Kings (1969) as Caliope
- Behold Man - The Survivors (1969) as Anna
- The Odyssey (1968) as Penelope
- The Brotherhood (1968) as Ida Ginetta
- We Still Kill the Old Way (1967) as Luisa Roscio
- The Desperate Ones (1967) as Ajmi
- Witness Out of Hell (1967) as Lea Weiss
- Trap for the Assassin (1966) as Julia de Noirville
- The Steps (1966) as Joana
- Zorba the Greek (1964) as Widow
- The Moon-Spinners (1964) as Sophia
- Electra (1962) as Elektra
- The Guns of Navarone (1961) as Maria Pappadimos
- Antigone (1961) as Antigone
- Bouboulina (1959) as Laskarina Bouboulina
- Pssst ... girls! (1959) as Eleni
- The Lake of Sighs (1959) as Frosyni
- Tribute to a Bad Man (1956) as Jocasta Constantine
- MGM Parade (1955) as self
- Climax! (1954) as Maxanne York
- Reflets de Cannes (1954) as Self
- Attila (1954) as Grune
- Theodora, Slave Empress (1954) as Faidia
- The Missing Scientists (1954) as Gina
- The Unfaithfuls (1953) as Luisa Azzali
- Vortice (1953) as Clara
- The Man From Cairo (1953) as Yvonne Lebeau
- Dead City (1951) as Lena
- Fallen Angels (1948) as Liana