Melina Mercouri
| Melina Mercouri | |
|---|---|
Melina Mercouri (in Stockholm, 1982)
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| Born |
Maria Amalia Mercouri 18 October 1920 (per Julian Calendar) Born 31 October 1920 in the Gregorian Calendar Athens, Greece |
| Died | 6 March 1994 (aged 73) New York, New York |
| Occupation | Actress, Member of the Hellenic Parliament, Minister for Culture of Greece |
| Spouse(s) | Panos Harokopos (1941–1962; divorced) Jules Dassin (1966–1994; her death) |
| Parent(s) | Stamatis Mercouris (father) Eirini Lappa (mother) |
Melina Mercouri (Greek: Μελίνα Μερκούρη, born as Maria Amalia Mercouri, Μαρία Αμαλία Μερκούρη; 18 October 1920 – 6 March 1994) was a Greek actress, singer and politician.
Mercouri was born to a former cavalry officer and member of the Greek parliament, Stamatis Mercouris, and his wife Eirini Lappa. When she completed her secondary education, she attended the National Theatre's Drama School, graduating in 1944. Mercouri's first husband was a wealthy landowner, Panos Harokopos. The couple divorced in 1962.
As an actress, Mercouri made her film debut in Stella (1955) and met international success with her performances in Never on Sunday (1960, with future husband Jules Dassin), Phaedra, Topkapi, and Promise at Dawn. She won the award for Best Actress at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival. She was nominated for an Academy Award, a Tony Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and two BAFTA Awards.
A political activist during the Greek military junta of 1967–1974, Mercouri became a member of the Hellenic Parliament in 1977 and became the first female Minister for Culture of Greece in 1981. In 1983, Mercouri proposed the programme of the European Capital of Culture, which was established by the European Union in 1985.
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