Melina Mercouri
Biography
Melina Mercouri was a Greek actress. She was born on 18 October 1920 in Athens, Greece. Mercouri received an Academy Award nomination and won a French Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Award for her performance in the film Never on Sunday. She also won an Italian David di Donatello for Topkapi. Mercouri was nominated for one Tony Award, three Golden Globe Awards, two BAFTA Awards, and one New York Film Critics Circle Award during her acting career. She was a member of the Hellenic Parliament and was awarded a special prize in the first edition of the Europe Theatre Prize in 1987. Mercouri passed away on 6 March 1994 at the age of 73.
Career overview
Melina Mercouri was a Greek actress who received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in the film Never on Sunday. She also won a French Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Award for the same film. Additionally, she won an Italian David di Donatello for her performance in Topkapi.
Mercouri was a talented actress who was recognized for her work in various film festivals. She was nominated for several prestigious awards, including one Tony Award, three Golden Globe Awards, two BAFTA Awards, and one New York Film Critics Circle Award. Her impressive acting career spanned multiple film genres and earned her recognition from international film critics and audiences.
Throughout her acting career, Mercouri appeared in numerous films, with a total of 40 known credits. Her performances were widely acclaimed, and she remains one of the most notable Greek actresses of her time. Mercouri's dedication to her craft and her ability to captivate audiences with her performances have left a lasting impact on the film industry.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Melina Mercouri.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
42 titles- The Marbles (2025) as Self - Photo Only (archive footage)
- Melina Stop Frame - In Search of Modern Greekness (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- Melina's fight for the Parthenon sculptures (2017) as Self (archive footage)
- Lilly's Story (2002) Writer
- Kronen Könner Kavaliere (1984) as Self
- A Dream of Passion (1978) as Maya / Medea
- Nasty Habits (1977) as Sister Gertrude
- Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975) as Self
- Once Is Not Enough (1975) as Karla
- Songs of Fire (1975) as Self
- Songs of Fire (1975) Songs
- The Rehearsal (1974) as Self
- The Rehearsal (1974) Producer
- Le Grand Échiquier (1972) as Self
- Samedi soir (1971) as Self
- V.I.P. Schaukel (1971) as Self
- Promise at Dawn (1970) as Nina Kacewa
- Wünsch dir was (1969) as Self
- Gaily, Gaily (1969) as Lil
- À bout portant (1968) as Self
- A Man Could Get Killed (1966) as Aurora / Celeste da Costa
- 10:30 P.M. Summer (1966) as Maria
- Dim Dam Dom (1965) as Self
- The Uninhibited (1965) as Jenny
- Die Drehscheibe (1964) as Self
- Topkapi (1964) as Elizabeth Lipp
- The Victors (1963) as Magda
- 38-24-36 (1963) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- Phaedra (1962) as Phaedra Kyrilis
- The Last Judgment (1961) as Foreign lady
- Long Live Henry IV... Long Live Love! (1961) as Marie de Médicis
- Never on Sunday (1960) as Ilya
- Discorama (1959) as Self
- The Law (1959) as Donna Lucrezia
- The Gypsy and the Gentleman (1958) as Belle
- He Who Must Die (1957) as Katerina
- Cinépanorama (1956) as Self
- Stella (1955) as Stella
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self - Mystery Guest
- la loi as Lucrezia
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Melina Mercouri best known for?
Melina Mercouri is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975), Once Is Not Enough (1975), Le Grand Échiquier (1972), Samedi soir (1971).
When and where was Melina Mercouri born?
Melina Mercouri was born on October 18, 1920 in Athens, Greece. They passed away on March 6, 1994.
How many credits does Melina Mercouri have?
Melina Mercouri has accumulated over 42 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1950 to 2025.
What is Melina Mercouri's background in cinema and television?
Melina Mercouri was a Greek actress. She was born on 18 October 1920 in Athens, Greece. Mercouri received an Academy Award nomination and won a French Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Award for her performance in the film Never on Sunday. She also won an Italian David di Donatello for Topkapi. Mercouri was nominated f...
Melina Mercouri by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Cinépanorama (1956) as Self — aged about 35
- Le Grand Échiquier (1972) as Self — aged about 51
- V.I.P. Schaukel (1971) as Self — aged about 50
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self — aged about 41
- Die Drehscheibe (1964) as Self — aged about 43
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self - Mystery Guest — aged about 29
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on Melina Mercouri.