Melina Mercouri Biography

Fast Facts

• Elected to the Greek Parliament in 1977 later becoming the first woman to hold a senior cabinet position as Minister of Culture
• Married well-known American film director Jules Dassin whom she would go on to collaborate with on numerous projects after he was blacklisted in the United States and chose to settle in Europe
• Passed away at 73 from lung cancer complications and later received a state funeral in her native Greece
• Quote: "(Her statement after having her Greek citizenship revoked in 1967) "I was born a Greek, I will die a Greek․""
• Officially retired from film acting in 1978 and later stage work in 1992 to continue her political efforts
• Worked in Greek theater for more than 10 years before her film debut in 1955 with "Stella" which would propel her to international fame after the film gained critical acclaim at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival
• Starred in her first feature film at 35-years-old
• Was exiled from Greece for seven years during the late '60s and early '70s after protesting the stronghold of the Greek Junta, who subsequently revoked her citizenship and passport