Melina Mercouri

Melina Mercouri was a Greek actress, politician, and activist. She was born on October 18, 1920, in Athens, Greece. Mercouri started her acting career in Greece and gained international recognition for her role in the film "Never on Sunday" (1960). She continued to act in numerous films and received critical acclaim for her performances. Apart from her acting career, Mercouri was actively involved in politics and became a member of the Hellenic Parliament. She was known for her strong advocacy of Greek culture and democracy. Mercouri was also a vocal critic of the military junta that ruled Greece in the 1960s and 1970s. She was forced into exile during that time but later returned to Greece after the restoration of democracy. Mercouri passed away on March 6, 1994, in New York City, United States, due to lung cancer. She was laid to rest in Paris, France. Throughout her life, Melina Mercouri left a lasting legacy as an actress, politician, and activist.During the occupation, Melina became romantically involved with businessman Phidias Yadikiaroglou while still married to Harokopos although their marital relationship had effectively ended. Mercouri was later criticized for living in the comforts of a 400 sq. m. apartment at avenue Akademias 4, much of which had been commandeered by the Germans at a time when the Greek people were starving, and of not contributing to the national resistance.[citation needed] Melina had commented on this period of her life, both in her autobiography, "I was born a Greek," and on television as Minister of Culture, taking responsibility for her non-participation in the Resistance during the Occupation. Lycurgos Kallergis, a member of EAM and the Left during the Occupation, said: "Although I was and am a left-winger, the issue of the opulence in which she lived did not bother me. After all, Melina was hosting people, feeding people, helping friends.[...] "[citation needed]The great Greek writer Alkis Zei also agrees with this view, stating that during the period of occupation, Melina was hiding left-wingers and giving them money.[citation needed] At the same time, her brother, Spyros Mercouris, had joined the Resistance as a member of the EPON. Many times, according to testimonies,[citation needed] Melina would secretly take Yadikiaroglou's money and give it to her brother for the Resistance, hiding both him and his comrades in the organization while helping her impoverished colleagues. It was known that during the occupation, despite her then husband's objections, Melina's house, on her own instruction, was always open and welcoming to many people in need, providing them with food and shelter. Despite occasional criticisms, her dislike of the Nazi occupiers is demonstrated by an incident during the occupation where she disobeyed SS men while at a bar, despite the threat of being shot.[citation needed] A number of people with strong resistance activities during the occupation became close friends of hers, including writer Iakovos Kambanellis (who wrote 'Stella with the Red Gloves' especially for her), actress Olympia Papadouka, actor Manos Katrakis, actor and secretary of the EAM theatre Dimitris Myrat, writer Alkis Zei, director Nikos Koundouros, and Manolis Glezos. During the civil war, although Melina Mercouri lived in Kolonaki, which was controlled by the British, she visited her friends and colleagues who had been arrested for their political beliefs. Years later, Aleka Paizi gratefully recounted Melina's visit to the prison where she was being held, to support her.