In a new documentary, Hollywood actor John Stamos embarks on a personal journey to uncover his Greek ancestry. “I look at faces, and I see my dad, I see my grandfather. It feels familiar,” he reflects while traveling through the streets of Athens.
Featured in the documentary series Who Do You Think You Are?, Stamos uncovers remarkable details about his family’s history, including a long-standing family conflict that deeply affected his grandfather’s early life. With the assistance of historian Katerina Lagos, Stamos traces his lineage back to the Arcadian village of Kakouri, where his grandfather, John (Ioannis) Stamos, was born in 1904. His grandfather, originally named Ioannis Stamatopoulos, emigrated to the United States from this village, altering his last name to Stamos upon arrival.
Determined to learn more, Stamos visits the registry office in Tripoli, where he discovers records showing that his grandfather was described as an orphan, having lost his father at an early age. His great-grandfather, Vassilios, was tragically killed in 1905 by a man named Ioannis Koliopoulos.
Stamos has previously written about his connection to Greece in his memoir, If You Would Have Told Me. He describes the profound experience of sharing Greek culture with his wife and son, noting that it has brought his family closer to their roots and strengthened their bond with relatives abroad. Through this journey, Stamos deepens his family’s connection to Greece and finds new meaning in his heritage.
Australian actor Adam Demos, takes on a new challenge in Rescue: HI-Surf, where he plays lifeguard Will Ready on O‘ahu’s North Shore. “I’ve got more clothes on in this one,” he jokes speaking to The Advertiser, contrasting it with his past performances.
According to The Advertiser, growing up on a farm near Wollongong, Demos had to train rigorously to prepare for the demanding physical role, mastering jet skiing, lifesaving techniques, and swimming in rough waves. “95 percent of it was no stunt doubles. It was all us,” he mentioned.
Set against the breathtaking but unforgiving waves of Banzai Pipeline, HI-Surf follows lifeguards tackling everything from shark attacks to sand collapses. The intense on-location filming added realism—and unpredictability. “You can plan for something, and then all of a sudden, the wind will change, the waves will start, the swell will go in a different direction,” he said.
Adam Demos. Photo: David Caird / The Herald Sun.
While it may seem reminiscent of Baywatch, HI-Surf offers a serious take on rescue work without the beach montages. “It’s all fast and action-packed,” Demos noted, praising the production’s authenticity.
“I welcome people thinking it might be one thing [and then tuning in], because they’re going to have a really great time watching.”
After gaining fame in UnReal and Sex/Life, Demos embraces his rising star status but remains grounded. “I would be egotistical to be thinking about [being a heart-throb]…I just get in there and try to do a good job.”
The European Commission has approved €370 million in funding for the Faliro Bay Metropolitan Park in Athens, a key project under the New European Bauhaus initiative, which had faced delays since its initial proposal in 2016.
According to an article by Tania Georgiopoulou in ekathimerini.com, signed by Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira, this approval enables the development of a 54.1-hectare park aimed at revitalizing and preserving green spaces across the city.
The park will dedicate 75% of its area to green spaces, including the planting of 2,900 new trees, while the remaining 25% will feature recreational facilities like sports fields, playgrounds, an outdoor cinema, and event spaces. The project is expected to go to auction by January 2025, with a targeted opening date in 2028.
To ensure long-term sustainability, regional officials are planning partnerships with private operators to manage and maintain the park. Athens Regional Governor Nikos Hardalias emphasized his administration’s commitment to advancing this initiative, which had stalled under previous leadership, as part of a larger vision for enhancing urban sustainability and providing the community with increased access to nature.
Preliminary construction for the expansion of Athens International Airport is scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2025.
The goal is to increase the airport’s capacity to accommodate up to 33 million passengers by 2028, according to an article by Dimitris Delevegos in ekathimerini.com.
The expansion will add 81,000 square meters to the terminal.
The 650-million-euro investment aims not only to address the current capacity limits but also to align with Eurocontrol’s forecasts, which project a steady increase in flights to Greece through at least 2029, albeit at a more moderate growth rate.
According to a recent survey by Scrap Car Comparison, Greece ranks among the most nerve-wracking places to drive in the world. The study collected data from 2,000 drivers across ten countries, including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Italy, and Spain, who rated their experiences driving in various nations.
According to express.co.uk, participants rated each country on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 indicating minimal nervousness and 10 indicating extreme discomfort behind the wheel.
Greece was noted for its challenging driving environment and ranked as the 23rd most intimidating country for drivers worldwide. Turkey came in 12th with a score of 6.68, while Hungary placed 15th and Italy ranked just behind Greece in 24th.
The study remarked that “Greece and Italy are known for their chaotic traffic and historic, narrow streets, which can be especially daunting for foreign drivers.”
In the fashion industry, passion and determination are ‘must haves.’ If you don’t have them, you won’t succeed.
Stefanis Papadopoulos is not one of the passionless. She is a fashion designer proud to share her heritage through her label, By Stefanis.
Having worked in the fashion industry for many years, Stef witnessed the beauty and the darker sides of the industry.
“This experience fuelled my desire to create a brand that embodies transparency and authenticity. By Stefanis is not just a label; it’s a reflection of my values and dreams. I want my customers and my team to feel connected to the journey, to know that every piece is crafted with care and integrity,” the designer tells The Greek Herald.
Due to its intense competition, quick trend cycles, and ongoing need for innovation, the fashion industry is infamously hard to thrive in. In addition to keeping up with rapidly changing consumer preferences and seasonal trends, new designers must compete with established brands and the customer expectations for fast and cheap fashion.
Stef’s roots run deep in Edessa, Thessaloniki and Greece. Her family’s journey began when her yiayia, pappou, and mother arrived in Australia by boat, carrying little more than a blue suitcase. Their strength and determination have always inspired her, teaching Stef the value of hard work and the importance of pursuing what you love.
“My Pappou, a Greek Orthodox priest, instilled in me a deep sense of community and faith, while my Yiayia, a talented seamstress in the textile industry, nurtured my passion for fabric and design,” she remembers.
Fashion had been a lifelong passion for Stef, rooted in the cherished memories of her childhood. She vividly recalls watching her yiayia and mum transform into stunning figures, draped in incredible designs that were both classic and timeless. Their elegance and style captivated her, igniting a spark that would shape her future.
“My journey into fashion truly began when my yiayia handed me my first sewing needle at the age of 12, encouraging me to practice sewing on a button,” Stef explains.
“By 14, I was learning the intricacies of her domestic sewing machine. I can still picture myself as a five-year-old, holding fabric while she expertly tailored beautiful garments. Those moments, filled with laughter and the soft hum of the sewing machine, were the foundation of my dream to become a fashion designer.”
Stef’s Greek heritage is woven into every stitch of her designs, deeply rooted in the cherished memories of her beloved yiayia.
“Watching her at her sewing machine, surrounded by a kaleidoscope of fabrics and textures, was nothing short of magical,” she says.
By merging her Greek heritage with high-quality Australian craftsmanship, she aims to redefine elegance for the modern woman.
“Each piece reflects my commitment to meticulous craftsmanship, incorporating unique trims, buttons, and fabrics that echo my cultural roots. Through By Stefanis, I hope to celebrate the grace and strength of women everywhere, honouring the legacy of my yiayia while creating timeless fashion that resonates with today’s world,” she says.
Each garment she creates, with its rich textures and impeccable fit, stand as a testament to Stef’s commitment to perfection.
“The durability and elegance of my designs offer a refreshing alternative to the fleeting nature of global fast fashion. I want every woman who wears By Stefanis to feel not only comfortable but also radiant and self-assured, celebrating their unique beauty with every stitch,” Stef says.
She has bright dreams and ambitions for the future.
“Looking ahead, my dream is to see By Stefanis flourish into a household name, embraced by women everywhere who seek to feel confident, bold, and inspired. I aspire to expand our presence across Australia and, one day, to grace the beautiful landscapes of our homeland, Greece,” she concludes.
Angelina Jolie expressed her great love for Greece in an interview about her film MARIAalong with director Pablo Larrain, in London.
“It is very special, and I think there was something very meaningful to start this film in Greece, for obvious reasons,” Jolie noted.
The Chilean director praised the uniqueness of the Greek light: “The water, the colors, the islands in the background, but the light, I think, as a filmmaker, lighting has a lot of meaning and I think the light in Greece, to me it’s a Greek light. This atmosphere, you cannot cheat. There’s a lot of things you can cheat in films but not the light.”
The first shooting of the film, which follows the Greek diva as she retires to Paris after a glamorous and turbulent life, took place in the Peloponnese and specifically in Ilia.
MARIA is one of the most prominent Hollywood productions shot in Greece, thanks to the 40% Cash Rebate investment incentive of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center- Creative Greece.
HFAC – CREATIVE GREECE, as the main body exercising the country’s film and audiovisual policy, continues its efforts to attract international productions to Greece, which now has its own special place on the world film scene.
Renowned Greek filmmaker Yannis Smaragdis has been elected as a full member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, becoming the first Greek director to receive this honor since the Academy’s founding in 1990, tovima.com, has reported.
The Academy, based in Salzburg, Austria, operates under the patronage of the presidents of 12 European nations. Smaragdis, who hails from Crete, is celebrated for his films Cavafy, El Greco, and Kazantzakis, which have resonated deeply with audiences both in Greece and internationally.
The induction ceremony to welcome Smaragdis into the Academy’s Arts section will take place in Salzburg in March 2025, recognizing his significant cultural contributions and a remarkable career spanning four decades.
El Greco
According to tovima.com, upon his election, Smaragdis expressed his gratitude.
“It is a great honor to be elected by the European Academy of Sciences and Arts as a member in the field of Arts and Culture,” stated Yannis Smaragdis, further adding that he views this distinction as a duty to honor the Greek film and theatre directors who have left an indelible worldwide mark through successful films and stage productions.
Smaragdis, specifically stated “There are many talented Greeks who merit this recognition in fields such as music, painting, literature, and theater. My duty is to reach out particularly to the filmmakers and television creators, where numerous Greek directors are already gaining international prominence, not to emphasize my own success but to highlight the legacy of great creators of our nation in recent centuries—the fathers of modern Greek culture. They have fused core Greek values with contemporary international movements in a spirit of creative exploration, integrating their works into our national and, simultaneously, European and global tradition.”
A recent discovery in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii—a small house adorned with remarkably well-preserved frescoes—has drawn attention.
According to reuters.com, unlike other homes, this dwelling does not have an atrium but boasts intricate wall paintings.
The house, named the “House of Phaedra,” features a depiction of the mythological Athenian queen Phaedra alongside her stepson Hippolytus, who is shown rejecting her advances.
Additional frescoes display various motifs, including natural scenes, a meeting between a satyr and a nymph, and figures believed to represent the gods Venus and Adonis.
On Wednesday, October 30, AHEPA NSW Inc held its annual National Day celebration at its Hall, paying due honours to the men, women and children who fought against the Nazi invasion and Occupation of Greece between October 1940 and May 1945.
With a combination of speeches, poetry, music and art, AHEPA NSW Inc continued its 90th anniversary celebrations in style.
Beyond the traditional celebration of the OXI of the Hellenic people on 28 October 1940, the event marked a number of special anniversaries. Athens was liberated from Nazi Occupation on 12 October 1944, ending a three-and-a-half year nightmare. These were the focus of the comments by the Keynote Speaker, genocide scholar Dr Panayiotis Diamadis.
Wednesday, October 30 marked exactly 80 years since the last Nazi forces evacuated Thessaloniki, withdrawing from mainland Greece completely the following day.
Nazi garrisons remained on strategic Aegean islands until 1945, surrendering on Symi on May 8. Indeed, the last Nazi soldiers to surrender to the Allies were those on Crete on May 10, two days after the fall of the Nazi regime in Germany itself.
In keeping with the theme of honouring sacrifice, a recitation was screened of the Odysseus Elytis poem ‘An Heroic and Funereal Chant For The Lieutenant lost on the battlefield.’ First published in 1946, Elytis drew on his own experiences as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Hellenic Army on the advanced fire line.
Dignitaries in attendance included Anastasia Christophilopoulou, First Secretary for Public Diplomacy, Consulate-General of the Hellenic Republic in Sydney, and Councillor Fiona Douskou of Bayside Council, attending her very first community event as an elected public official.
The Ode to the Fallen was presented by Greek Ex-Servicemen’s Association President Peter Tsigounis in tribute to all Australians and Hellenes who have served the two countries.
