With a warm round of applause, relatives, friends, colleagues, local political figures, and ordinary people bid farewell today at the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral to the beloved actress Maro Kontou, who passed away last Wednesday (July 15) at the age of 92. A dynamic, creative, and tireless woman with a spirited and youthful spirit, she devoted herself to the arts, leaving behind a great legacy for Greek culture and the memory of a woman who lived her life on her own, uncompromising terms.
Starting in the morning, a large crowd gathered at the Metropolis of Athens, where the funeral service was held to bid farewell to his beloved «Eleni Kokovikou» from *A Woman Should Fear a Man* (1965), «Mrs. Renitsa,» as Nikos Stavridis called her, in Alekos Sakellarios’s masterpiece *Yellow Gloves* (1960) by Alekos Sakellarios, the most elegant «Italian Woman in Kypseli» (1968), and so many other heroines that this great actress embodied since making her big-screen debut in the late 1950s. Her family had requested that, instead of wreaths, donations be made to the «Mitera» Infant Care Center, of which the actress had served as president.
Maro Kontou was one of the last great ladies of the golden age of Greek cinema and a figure who graced the theater, television, and public life with integrity, dignity, and boundless creativity, earning a special place in the hearts of the public.
From her earliest appearances on stage and on the big screen to her final performances on television, she stood out for her talent, elegance, and commanding presence, gifting audiences with unforgettable roles that have become part of our collective memory. With more than seven decades of an uninterrupted artistic career, she was not only a great actress but also a woman of intellectual depth, social awareness, and an active contributor to the public sphere.
«A Woman Who Lived Guided by Her Heart»: Nikitas Kaklamanis’s Farewell
In the eulogy delivered by the Speaker of the House and her close friend Nikitas Kaklamanis, he spoke of «an ethereal being, slender, striking, and possessing an innate grace. An independent, free, and dynamic woman. A woman who lived guided by her heart and with the determination to shatter stereotypes in order to shape her life on her own human terms.».
«What pains me today is that instead of saying »good morning’ to you in person or over the phone, as we’ve been doing for decades, I’ll have to say ‘good night’ to you for good. Goodnight to our little everyday moments, goodnight to our meetings and our endless discussions about theater, cinema, the art of politics, and the politics of art. Good night to our shared journeys, to our shared experiences in this country; good night to that same, ever-youthful excitement every time we met; good night to a 30-year relationship that began with my admiration and culminated in our warm mutual respect,” said the Speaker of the House, among other things.
«Our Maro was a wandering soul and an eternal teenager. Restless, curious, and tireless, she proved that age is merely two digits in a number and not the essence of our existence. Maro devoted her heart and passion to public service, whether as a member of parliament, a city councilor, president of Athens 9.84, or—above all—director of the “Mother” Infant Care Center. She devoted her entire being to all of us, with an unwavering and creative spirit. Our beloved Maro, your friendship was a great privilege, but the bitterness of your absence is unimaginable. Our hearts are heavy, because from today onward and forever, none of us will ever hear “Say a Word to Me” again… we love you. ’Have a safe journey,» he said, visibly moved.
«I'm just passing through—I don't want you to honor me; I want you to love me.»
Her colleagues—Spyros Bibilas, Andreas Georgiou, Angela Gerekou, and Niki Pallikarakis—spoke from the heart about the late Maro Kontou.
Spyros Bibilas, representing SEH, TASEH, the Actors« House, and Dionysos (Collective Management Organization for Greek Actors), expressed his sincere condolences to her loved ones. “Maro was a great leading lady, a star, but she never wanted to be seen as such. On the contrary, she always emphasized how down-to-earth she was, and every time we asked her to be honored at the events we organized, she would tell us: ”I’m just a passing guest; I don’t want you to honor me—I just want you to love me.» You were no passing guest at all, my dear Maro, because you leave behind a great legacy for those of us who are younger. “We will never forget your velvety voice,” he said.
Angela Gerekou, who starred alongside the beloved actress in the TV series *The Land of the Olive Tree* and played her daughter, said emotionally: «Despite the pain and sorrow, I am filled with joy and gratitude that I got to know you, I’ve always admired you; you taught me so much, both in front of and behind the cameras; we were bound by deep love; and you supported me—and all of us—during difficult times. You taught us that a great actor can also be a truly great person. You were a remarkable woman who taught us invaluable life lessons. You told us not to look back, that we are just passing through and should not fear the end, as long as we love life every day. You were a courageous role model of kindness and generosity. I will always carry you in my heart. Safe travels, Mom Maria.».
Niki Pallikaraki said she wasn’t «ready» for this farewell. ’You were never afraid of death, just as you were never afraid of life—of living it the way you wanted to. You made us all proud—not only of your talent but also of your character, your integrity, and your dignity. «One of the greatest gifts of my life was the friendship you gave me. You always kept the child within you alive. You were a great, unique person, and we thank you for everything,’ he noted.
In his own farewell remarks, Andreas Georgiou, director of the series «The Land of the Olive Tree,» noted that Maro Kontou had always been the heart and soul of the crew. «I will never forget your professionalism, your kindness, your enthusiasm for work, and how tireless you were. I will always carry you in my heart as ’my girl,“ as I used to call you,” he said.
Among those in attendance at the ceremony were Dimitris Avramopoulos, Giorgos Voulgarakis, Elena Akrita, Kostas Spyrouinis, Spyros Bibilas, Christos Papakaliatis, Andreas Georgiou, Sotiris Tzevelekos, Koralia Karanti, Orestis Andreidakis, Anna Maria Papacharalambous, Evelina Papoulia, Haris Romas, Nadia Boule, and others.
Wreaths were sent by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis, Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, Mayor of Athens Haris Doukas, the SYRIZA Parliamentary Group, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis, New Democracy Political Committee Secretary Konstantinos Kyranakis, the ANTENNA Group, MEGA, Lakis Lazopoulos, Katia Dandoulaki, Dionysos—the collective management organization for Greek actors, the Karaniannis-Karatzopoulos organization, the «I Mitera» Center, the Tagaris family, and others. The burial took place at the First Cemetery.
Nadia Bakopoulouki
