Katina Paxinou

Career overview

Katina Paxinou was born on 17 December 1900 in Piraeus, Greece, and began her professional stage work in her native country in 1928. Four years later she became one of the founding members of the National Theatre of Greece, helping to establish a permanent institution for dramatic performance. During the Second World War she found herself in the United Kingdom and subsequently relocated to the United States, where she made her film debut in For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943). Her performance earned her both the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress, marking a rare achievement for a Greek actress in Hollywood. After appearing in a few additional American films, Paxinou returned to Greece in the early 1950s, having become a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1951.

Back in her homeland Paxinou turned her attention to the stage, where she was internationally recognized for her tragic portrayals in both modern and classic drama. Together with her second husband, the actor‑producer Alexis Minotis, she produced revivals of classic plays, often staging them in ancient venues. She continued to work in theatre until her death in Athens on 22 February 1973, at the age of 72. Throughout her career Paxinou was celebrated for the depth and intensity she brought to her roles, leaving a lasting legacy in both Greek and international performing arts.