Melina Mercouri: The life of the Greek cinema icon and political activist

Melina Mercouri, the celebrated Greek actress and political figure, was born on October 18, 1920, in Athens. Born into a prominent political family, she became an international film star and a significant figure in Greek cultural and political life.

Beyond her acting career, which included training at the National Theatre's Drama School, Mercouri was a staunch activist against the military dictatorship in Greece. She later served as the Minister of Culture, making impactful contributions on a global scale. During the Axis occupation, she reportedly used her personal resources to support the Greek Resistance.

In 2020, the Greek Ministry of Culture declared the year in her honor to mark the centenary of her birth, recognizing her legacy as a cultural icon often referred to by the international press as the ‘last Greek goddess’.