30 Gorgeous Photos of Irene Papas in the 1950s and ’60s

Born 1929 as Eirini Lelekou, Greek actress and singer Irene Papas starred in over 70 films in a career spanning more than 50 years. She gained international recognition through such popular award-winning films as The Guns of Navarone (1961), Zorba the Greek (1964) and Z (1969). She was a powerful protagonist in films including The Trojan Women (1971) and Iphigenia (1977). She played the title roles in Antigone (1961) and Electra (1962). She had a fine singing voice, on display in the 1968 recording Songs of Theodorakis.

Papas won Best Actress awards at the Berlin International Film Festival for Antigone and from the National Board of Review for The Trojan Women. Her career awards include the Golden Arrow Award in 1993 at Hamptons International Film Festival, and the Golden Lion Award in 2009 at the Venice Biennale.

Papas spent her final years in home care at her niece’s house in Kifissia. She died there in 2022, at the age of 93. Take a look at these gorgeous photos to see portraits of Irene Papas in the 1950s and 1960s.