Irene Papas or Pappas (Greek: Ειρήνη Παππά, romanized: Eiríni Pappá, born Eirini Lelekou [Ειρήνη Λελέκου]; 3 September 1929 – 14 September 2022) was a distinguished Greek actress and singer whose international career spanned more than five decades and encompassed over 70 films. She gained worldwide recognition for her passionate, statuesque performances and her classical Greek beauty, becoming one of the most iconic figures in Greek and international cinema.
Born in Chiliomodi, Corinthia, she studied at the National Theatre Drama School. She began her career in theatre and film in the late 1940s. She achieved international acclaim through her collaboration with director Michael Cacoyannis, starring in film adaptations of ancient tragedies such as "Electra" (1962), "Iphigenia" (1977), and "The Trojan Women" (1971)—the latter alongside Katharine Hepburn and Vanessa Redgrave. At the same time, she appeared in major international productions such as "The Guns of Navarone" (1961)—alongside Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn—Michael Cacoyannis’s "Zorba the Greek" (1964), Costa-Gavras’s political thriller "Z" (1969), and the epic production "The Message" (1976). Beyond acting, she also distinguished herself in music, collaborating with renowned artists such as Vangelis Papathanassiou (on the album "Odes") and Mikis Theodorakis.
Irene Papas received numerous awards at international festivals, including the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival in 2009. She passed away in 2022 at the age of 93, leaving behind an invaluable cultural legacy.
Recent movies
| # | Name | Character | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Talking Picture (2003) | Helena | 3 |
| 2 | Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001) | Drosoula | 6 |
| 3 | Inquietude (1998) | Mother | 3 |
| 4 | Jacob (1994) | Rebekka | - |
| 5 | Into the Night (1985) | Shaheen Parvici | 7 |
| 6 | Lion of the Desert (1981) | Mabrouka | 5 |
| 7 | Christ Stopped at Eboli (1979) | Giulia Venere | - |
| 8 | Bloodline (1979) | Simonetta Palazzi | - |
| 9 | Iphigenia (1977) | Klytaimnistra | 5 |
| 10 | The Message (1976) | Hind | 5.2 |
| 11 | Moses the Lawgiver (1976) | Zippora | - |
| 12 | The Battle of Sutjeska (1973) | Borina majka | - |
| 13 | Don't Torture a Duckling (1972) | Dona Aurelia Avallone | 5.5 |
| 14 | The Trojan Women (1971) | Helen | 5.5 |
| 15 | Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) | Queen Catherine | 7 |
| 16 | Z (1969) | Hélène | 6.2 |
| 17 | The Brotherhood (1968) | Ida Ginetta | 3 |
| 18 | We Still Kill the Old Way (1967) | Luisa Roscio | 4 |
| 19 | Zorba the Greek (1964) | Widow | 9 |
| 20 | The Moon-Spinners (1964) | Sophia | 6 |
| 21 | The Guns of Navarone (1961) | Maria Pappadimos | 7.3 |
| 22 | Attila (1954) | Grune | - |

