Maro Kontou, one of the most important and beloved leading ladies of Greek theater and cinema, passed away on the morning of Wednesday, July 15, at the age of 92.
The actress had been hospitalized for the past few days at the «Agios Savvas» General Cancer Hospital in Athens. According to the medical statement, she passed away following a serious deterioration in her health and despite the efforts of her doctors.
Marianna Kontou was born on June 21, 1934, in Athens and grew up in Koukaki. She began her artistic career in dance, studying at Koula Pratsika’s school, and from 1953 to 1958 she was a member of the National Theater’s Ancient Drama dance troupe. In 1958, she was granted an acting license as an exceptional talent and began a career that spanned more than six decades.
She made her film debut in 1954, in the movie *A Happy Beginning*. This was followed by more than 60 films and approximately 90 stage plays, with Maro Kontou collaborating with the leading filmmakers and actors of the era.
Among her best-known films are *Yellow Gloves*, *Woe to the Young*, *My Friend Lefterakis*, *An Italian Woman from Kypseli*, «Soferina,» «Captain Fantis Bastouni,» and «The Sparrow Who Became a Lamb.» Her collaboration with Lambros Konstantaras, with whom she co-starred in 13 films, was particularly successful.
«Elenitsa,» the song that made history
A major milestone in her career was Giorgos Tzavellas’s 1965 film *A Woman Should Fear a Man*. Playing Eleni Kokovikou opposite Giorgos Konstantinou’s «Antonakis,» she formed one of the most beloved couples in Greek cinema.
The film wasn't just memorable for its one-liners and humor. Through the relationship between the two protagonists, it addressed the status of women, the imbalances within marriage, and the need for mutual respect, at a time when gender equality was not yet at the center of public discourse.
The legendary line «Shut up, my Antonaki» has become part of the collective memory, as has the character of the elegant, patient, yet ultimately empowered Elenitsa.
Giorgos Konstantinou's Moving Farewell
In a simple and deeply personal post, Giorgos Konstantinou bid farewell to Maro Kontou, with whom he had maintained a close friendship for decades.
«Goodbye, my dear Elenitsa. But we had agreed otherwise,» he wrote, describing her as a «wonderful friend» and a «wonderful lady.».
Maro Kontou also served in public office. She served as a city councilor for Athens and as a member of the Hellenic Parliament representing the First District of Athens for the New Democracy party.
With her elegance, humor, grace on stage, and precision as an actress, she left behind a body of work that remains alive today. Her roles and lines continue to resonate with generations of audiences, keeping Maro Kontou ever-present in the collective memory.
