Irene Papas, A Famed Actress, Has Died At 96

By Hannah Lozada

Irene Papas, a famed actress, has died at 96. Ms. Papas had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for 5 years, which would have contributed to her death.  Fans will remember the late actress for her talents and achievements. A spokesman for the Greek Culture Ministry received an email that confirmed Irene’s death. The Ministry states that she represented Greek beauty from her roles as an actress.

Irene Papas was featured in over 70 films for nearly 50 years. These films include, ‘Zorba The Greek’, ’Z’ and ‘The Guns of Navarone.’ Irene Papas’ role as Helen from the 1971 film, “The Trojan Women,” earned her an award from the National Board of Review’s.

Eirini (Irene) Lelekou was born on September 3, 1926, in a village called Chiliomodi, but she was raised in Athens. Once she became a teenager, she started researching drama. She eventually began her acting career after this. Papas started her acting career by performing in theaters, including plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, and Greek tragedy. 

Elia Kazan, a film director, eventually discovered Papa’s talent. The first film that featured Irene Papas was the 1948 film called, “Fallen Angels,” where she played a minor role. In 1951, she began to prioritize her time in the film industry instead of performing in theaters. For nearly 50 years, Irene Papas was featured in over 70 films. “A Talking Picture (2003),” was the last film that Papas was featured in. After that, Papas retired from the film industry, and continued to live in Greece. 

Irene Papas was a very talented actress. The characters she performed rarely had speaking roles, so she would rely on facial expressions to express the characters. Her performances influenced and inspired many people worldwide. She will be remembered in many people’s hearts as a representation of Greek beauty.