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
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Languages
Papas learned to speak Italian fluently, and a large number of the films she appeared in were produced in that language.
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
Captain Corelli's Mandolinas Drosoula
Jacobas Rebekka
Lion of the Desertas Mabrouka
Bloodlineas Simonetta Palazzi
The Messageas Hind
The Battle of Sutjeskaas Borina majka
Don't Torture a Ducklingas Dona Aurelia Avallone
Roma beneas Elena Teopoulos
The Trojan Womenas Helen
Anne of the Thousand Daysas Queen Catherine of Aragon
Zas Hélène
The Brotherhoodas Ida Ginetta
The Moon-Spinnersas Sophia
Zorba the Greekas Widow
The Guns of Navaroneas Maria
Tribute to a Bad Manas Jocasta Constantine
Attilaas Grune
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
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.








Films together
Anthony Quinn5 films together, 1954 to 1981
Anthony Quinn's page Lion of the Desert1981IMDb rating 8.2Papas as MabroukaQuinn as Omar Mukhtar
The Message1976IMDb rating 8.1Papas as HindQuinn as Hamza
Zorba the Greek1964IMDb rating 7.6Papas as WidowQuinn as Alexis Zorba
The Guns of Navarone1961IMDb rating 7.5Papas as MariaQuinn as Andrea
Attila1954IMDb rating 5.4Papas as GruneQuinn as Attila(Anthony Qvinn)
Richard Burton2 films together, 1969 to 1973
Richard Burton's page The Battle of Sutjeska1973IMDb rating 6.8Papas as Borina majkaBurton as Josip Broz Tito
Anne of the Thousand Days1969IMDb rating 7.4Papas as Queen Catherine of AragonBurton as King Henry VIII
Eduardo Ciannelli2 films together, 1954 to 1968
Eduardo Ciannelli's page The Brotherhood1968IMDb rating 6.0Papas as Ida GinettaCiannelli as Don Peppino
Attila1954IMDb rating 5.4Papas as GruneCiannelli as Onegesius - Counselor to Attila(Eduardo Cianelli)
André Morell2 films together, 1964 to 1976
André Morell's page The Message1976IMDb rating 8.1Papas as HindMorell as Abu-Talib
The Moon-Spinners1964IMDb rating 6.5Papas as SophiaMorell as Yacht Captain
Geneviève Bujold2 films together, 1969 to 1971
Geneviève Bujold's page The Trojan Women1971IMDb rating 6.9Papas as HelenBujold as Cassandra
Anne of the Thousand Days1969IMDb rating 7.4Papas as Queen Catherine of AragonBujold as Anne Boleyn
Anthony Quayle2 films together, 1961 to 1969
Anthony Quayle's page Anne of the Thousand Days1969IMDb rating 7.4Papas as Queen Catherine of AragonQuayle as Cardinal Wolsey
The Guns of Navarone1961IMDb rating 7.5Papas as MariaQuayle as Franklin
Moustapha AkkadDirector, 2 films, 1976 to 1981
All films by Moustapha Akkad Lion of the Desert1981IMDb rating 8.2Papas as Mabrouka
The Message1976IMDb rating 8.1Papas as Hind
Mihalis KakogiannisDirector, 2 films, 1964 to 1971
All films by Mihalis Kakogiannis The Trojan Women1971IMDb rating 6.9Papas as Helen
Zorba the Greek1964IMDb rating 7.6Papas as Widow
Also two films together5 more actors
- Robert BrownLion of the Desert (1981) and The Message (1976)
- Tutte LemkowThe Moon-Spinners (1964) and The Guns of Navarone (1961)
- Gastone MoschinLion of the Desert (1981) and Roma bene (1971)
- Mario FelicianiRoma bene (1971) and Attila (1954)
- Takis EmmanuelLion of the Desert (1981) and Zorba the Greek (1964)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Irene Papas's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
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$62M48.4% of the total
- 2$29M22.5% of the total
- 3$15M11.7% of the total
- 4$9.0M7.0% of the total
- 5$8.2M6.4% of the total
- 6$3.5M2.7% of the total
- 7$1.5M1.2% of the total
- 8$83K0.1% of the total
Awards
Five awards and honors from 1971 to 2001.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 2001 | Honorary doctorate at the University of Rome Tor Vergata | Honorary | |
| 1995 | Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres | Won | |
| 1971 | National Board of Review Award for Best Actress | The Trojan Women | Won |
| Commander of the Order of the Phoenix | Won | ||
| Knight Commander of the Order of Alfonso X | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.













