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Irene Papas

Biography

Irene Papas was a Greek actress and singer whose screen work ran to more than 70 films over half a century. Born in Chiliomodi, outside Corinth, she trained at the National Theatre of Greece Drama School and graduated in 1948. She began in Greek theater before entering film in 1951, and became a leading figure in film versions of ancient tragedy, taking the leads in Antigone (1961) and Electra (1962). Her fame abroad was built on Z (1969), Zorba the Greek (1964) and The Guns of Navarone (1961). For Antigone she took a Best Actress award at the Berlin International Film Festival, and the National Board of Review honored her for The Trojan Women (1971), in which she played Helen. Later credits included Anne of the Thousand Days (1969), The Message (1976) and Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001). She also starred on Broadway in Medea in 1973 and recorded Songs of Theodorakis. She died in 2022.

93years old at death

  • Born Chiliomodi, Corinth, Greece
  • Died Kifisia
  • Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
  • Ειρήνη Λελέκου (birth name)Also credited as Irene Lelekou, Irene Pappas, Pappas Irene and Lelekou Irene

Movie Career

Films
17
Career span
47 years1954 to 2001

Genres

Photos

  • Irene Papas, photo 1 of 3
  • Irene Papas, photo 2 of 3
  • Irene Papas, photo 3 of 3

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  1. Languages

    Papas learned to speak Italian fluently, and a large number of the films she appeared in were produced in that language.

  2. Beyond film

    Papas released the album Songs of Theodorakis in 1969, with 11 songs sung in Greek and sleeve notes by Michael Cacoyannis.

Irene Papas movies on Netflix

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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  1. The Message1976 Adventure, Biography, Dramaas Hind

    IMDb rating 8.154K votes

  2. Z1969 Crime, Drama, Historyas Hélène

    IMDb rating 8.134K votes

  3. Zorba the Greek1964as Widow

    IMDb rating 7.626K votes

  4. The Guns of Navarone1961as Maria

    IMDb rating 7.561K votes

  5. Lion of the Desert1981as Mabrouka

    IMDb rating 8.219K votes

  6. Captain Corelli's Mandolin2001as Drosoula

    IMDb rating 5.938K votes

  7. Don't Torture a Duckling1972as Dona Aurelia Avallone

    IMDb rating 7.013K votes

  8. Anne of the Thousand Days1969as Queen Catherine of Aragon

    IMDb rating 7.48.9K votes

Most often with

Moustapha Akkad directed two of these films, Mihalis Kakogiannis two. Anthony Quinn appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Films together

Box office

What Irene Papas's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$128 million

8 of the 17 films have a worldwide figure.

Of the 17 films: 8 worldwide figure; 2 us gross only; 1 never in cinemas; 6 figure not found.

  • 8Worldwide figure
  • 2US gross only
  • 1Never in cinemas
  • 6Figure not found

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

  1. 1
    $62M48.4% of the total
  2. 2
    $29M22.5% of the total
  3. 3
    The Message1976as Hind
    $15M11.7% of the total
  4. 4
    Zorba the Greek1964as Widow
    $9.0M7.0% of the total
  5. 5
    Bloodline1979as Simonetta Palazzi
    $8.2M6.4% of the total
  6. 6
    The Moon-Spinners1964as Sophia
    $3.5M2.7% of the total
  7. 7
    Lion of the Desert1981as Mabrouka
    $1.5M1.2% of the total
  8. 8
    Z1969as Hélène
    $83K0.1% of the total

Awards

Five awards and honors from 1971 to 2001.

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Irene Papas's awards and nominations, grouped by award
YearAwardFilmResult
Other honors
2001Honorary doctorate at the University of Rome Tor VergataHonorary
1995Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres‎Won
1971National Board of Review Award for Best ActressThe Trojan WomenWon
Commander of the Order of the PhoenixWon
Knight Commander of the Order of Alfonso XWon

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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