«I am Greek, because I was born here and because my identity is my childhood...».
The above was stated years ago in an interview with «ENA Magazine» and Nikos Stathoulis, by the great singer Irini Papa, who passed away last Wednesday.
In her career, she has played major female roles in theatre and cinema, fully embodying the power of ancient tragedy.
«I am influenced by life circumstances, cultural, emotional,» he added: «I had a father who was a fan of ancient Greece and a mother who lived in mythology. Both of them were teachers of ancient and modern Greek. I grew up in that enclosure. Abroad I don't go abroad to pretend to be Italian, French. I go with my merchandise. My authenticity. I never said ‘I'm European level’. I am of Greek level.».
Apart from being a great performer, Irini Papa was also a strong personality, imposing and captivating. In almost a century of her life, she left an indelible mark on the screen and on the theatre stage. And with the courage that distinguished her, she did what no one else would dare to do. Like in 1983 when she secretly searched inside the Hagia Sophia.
As journalist Debbie Golemas wrote in her column «Until Keria» (znews.gr) «it was spring before Easter 1983 when one morning Irini Papa appeared at ERT in the building of Katehaki ... she had come from Rome for a co-production film of ERT, but also for a more important reason».
«To go with the ‘Reporters’ (a show with Kostas Hardavella, Yannis Dimaras, George Lianis) to Istanbul and to secretly film two of the most beautiful hymns of Byzantine music, ‘The Supermacho General’ and the hymn of M. Friday hymn ‘O, my sweet Ear’, which as a plan was both bold and dangerous.».
Ms. Golemas contacted Mr. Hardavela, who stated that: «We entered the church with many precautions ... We hid the camera in a coat, Irene wore a red cloth on her head which made her even more imposing and at the beginning she started very quietly chanting ‘Tia Hypermacho Stratea ti victorious’ ... Then when I asked her she said that she had never felt such a shiver and emotion inside the Hagia Sophia, hearing the forbidden hymn of orthodoxy ...».
«After ‘Te Hypermacho’ we continued, taking a break so as not to attract the attention of the Turks, and at some point Irini Papa started singing ‘Oh my sweet ears’. There was nothing more moving for all of us...».
It is also worth noting that Irini Papa and the late Costas Kazakos had co-starred in the film «Iphigenia» by Michalis Cacoyannis, which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, while she was also nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. They had also performed together at the Herodion in the performance Antony and Cleopatra, directed by Cacoyannis.
IRENE PAPA
Irini Papa (whose real name was Irini Lelekou) was born on September 3, 1926 in Chiliomodi, Corinthia -in 1929 according to some sources- where she spent her childhood.
Her parents were teachers and she had three sisters. Her teenage years found her in Athens, attending acting classes at the National School of Classical Theatre. At 15, she has already taken her artistic path, having worked as a radio producer, singer and dancer. At the age of 18 she married the writer Alkis Papa, and although their marriage did not last long, the actress retained the surname by which she became world famous.
In her first steps on the theatrical stage she participated in productions of the National Theatre. Her exceptional talent and her outstanding performances in ancient tragedies, such as «Medea» and «Electra», soon make her famous.
The actress' love and respect for ancient drama was great.
In her last year at the school, Alekos Sakellarios saw her play in Macbeth. He asked her to come to the review. And although it was diametrically opposed to her and her classical education, she said yes.
Her debut in cinema was in 1948 in the film «Lost Angels‘ directed by Nikos Tsiforos. In 1951 comes »Dead State«, directed by Frixos Eliades, co-starring George Fountas. The film participates in the Cannes Film Festival and everyone is speechless, recognizing this new face as possessing a uniqueness.
In 1962 she collaborated with Michael Cacoyannis and starred in the film adaptation of Euripides« »Electra" along with Yannis Ferti, Aleka Katseli and Manos Katrakis. The film won a total of 24 awards and honours, including the awards for best film adaptation and soundtrack at the Cannes Film Festival (1962).
Irene Papa has taken part in more than 80 films, shot all over the world (Chinetchita, Hollywood, Yugoslavia, Lebanon, Morocco, Brazil, Australia, Portugal, etc.) with co-stars such as Marlon Brando, Yves Montagne, Gregory Peck, Anthony Quinn, Richard Burton, Jan Maria Volonte, among others.
Apart from her successful adaptations of the tragedies, her best-known films are the unforgettable Hollywood extravaganza The Cannons of Navarone (1961) and Alexis Zorba (1964).
Her intense gaze, the clean lines of her face, her «Caryatid» features, a title that has followed her throughout her career, and her intense personality, are winning over international audiences and American producers.
One success after another and Irini Papa is in the international film scene for many decades. The confirmation of her hard work and talent came in 1969 with the film «Z», directed by Kostas Gavras, which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
Her theatrical debut on the Broadway stage took place in 1967 with the play «That Summer, That Autumn» alongside Jon Voyd (Angelina Jolie's father), while later on she played Helen in «The Trojan Women» (1972) and Clytemnestra in «Iphigenia» (1977), directed by Michael Cacoyannis.
In «The Trojan Women», which was filmed in English with foreign actors, Papa met her co-star Catherine Hepburn, who played Hecuba, with whom she developed a strong friendship. In fact, Hepburn publicly stated that Papa was one of the best actresses in cinema.
In 1972 he appears alongside the late, later Oscar-winning Greek composer, the late Vangelis Papathanasiou. He convinces her to try her singing talent.
Irini Papa records with him «666», the latest album of the music band «Aphrodite's Child», with references to the «Revelation of John» and lyrical contribution of the director Kostas Ferris. Two other collaborations with Vangelis Papathanasiou follow: «Odes» with Greek folk songs arranged by Vangelis and «Rhapsodies» with hymns of the Holy Week.
Her contribution to art has been recognized many times both in Greece and abroad, through the countless distinctions she has received from time to time. In 1995 she was awarded the Order of the Order of the Phoenix by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Costis Stephanopoulos. In 2000 she was awarded the title of «Woman of Europe» for her contribution to the promotion of European cultural identity.
In 2008 he was awarded the «International Prize for Culture» by Premio Roma at the ancient theatre of Ostia Antica. This is an extremely honourable distinction, as this prize has been awarded in the past to pontiffs and the Mayor of Rome, Walter Veltroni, among others.
In 2009 the Greek actress was awarded the «Golden Lion» of the 40th Venice Biennale Theatre Festival.
In the same year, Irini Papa was among the 260 artists from all over the world invited by Pope Benedict to the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican to ask them «to convey with their art the message of God».
