One of the most iconic actresses of Greek cinema and theatre, Martha Karagianni, passed away on Sunday at the age of 82.
In a statement following her death, Greece’s Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said her death “marks the end of the ‘golden age’ of Greek cinema.”
“She was a woman characterised by spontaneity and directness. Her presence gave us and will continue to give us joy, beauty, laughter,” Mendoni said.
“I express my deepest condolences to her family and many friends.”
Karagianni was born in 1939 in Athens and grew up in the neighbourhood of Keratsini. She studied ballet and made her first screen appearance in Madame X (1956).
In 1957, she made her stage debut, but her real breakthrough came in the early 1960s when she started appearing in a series of films directed by Giannis Dalianidis.
Her stage work includes Mikis Theodorakis’ Omorphi poli, Joe Masteroff’s Cabaret (as Sally Bowles), Nell Dunn’s Steaming and many Greek comedies.
Karagianni is the third loss for the Greek cinema this past week after the deaths of Irene Papas and Kostas Kozakos as well.
READ MORE: Actress Martha Karagianni bids sweet goodbye to Kostas Voutsas: “Too good Kostas, I will always love you”.
