
Irene Papas
ActingAbout Irene Papas
Irene Papas (Greek: Ειρήνη Παππά, born Eirini Lelekou (Greek: Ειρήνη Λελέκου) 3 September 1929 – 14 September 2022)was a Greek actress and singer who 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. Description above from the Wikipedia article Irene Papas, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Irene Papas reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Irene Papas's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 48% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Irene Papas remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Z, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Irene Papas Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Irene Papas's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Irene Papas.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | A Talking Picture | Helena | Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | ...και το τρένο πάει στον ουρανό | Elena Michailovna | Flop | Similar → |
| 2001 | Captain Corelli's Mandolin | Drosoula | Average | Similar → |
| 1998 | Inquietude | Mother | Average | Similar → |
| 1996 | Party | Irene | Average | Similar → |
| 1994 | Jacob | Rebekka | Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Island | Marquise | Flop | Similar → |
| 1987 | High Season | Penelope | Flop | Similar → |
| 1987 | Chronicle of a Death Foretold | Madre de Angela | Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | A Child Called Jesus | Old Maria | Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | The Assisi Underground | Mother Giuseppina | Flop | Similar → |
| 1985 | Into the Night | Shaheen Parvici | Hit | Similar → |
| 1983 | Erendira | Grandmother Amadis | Average | Similar → |
| 1981 | Lion of the Desert | Mabrouka | Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | Bloodline | Simonetta Palazzi | Flop | Similar → |
| 1979 | Christ Stopped at Eboli | Giulia Venere | Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | Iphigenia | Klytaimnistra | Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | Blood Wedding | La mère | Flop | Similar → |
| 1976 | Moses the Lawgiver | Zippora | Average | Similar → |
| 1976 | The Message | Hind | Hit | Similar → |
| 1974 | Bambina | Raimonda Spina | Flop | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Battle of Sutjeska | Borina majka | Average | Similar → |
| 1972 | Don't Torture a Duckling | Dona Aurelia Avallone | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | N.P. - The Secret | Casalinga | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Roma bene | Elena Teopoulos | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | Oasis of Fear | Barbara Slater | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | The Trojan Women | Helen | Average | Similar → |
| 1969 | Anne of the Thousand Days | Queen Catherine | Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | A Dream of Kings | Caliope | Flop | Similar → |
| 1969 | Z | Hélène | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | The Brotherhood | Ida Ginetta | Average | Similar → |
| 1968 | Odissea | Penelope | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | Witness Out of Hell | Lea Weiss | Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | We Still Kill the Old Way | Luisa Roscio | Hit | Similar → |
| 1966 | Trap for the Assassin | Julia de Noirville | Flop | Similar → |
| 1964 | Zorba the Greek | Widow | Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | The Moon-Spinners | Sophia | Average | Similar → |
| 1962 | Electra | Elektra | Hit | Similar → |
| 1961 | Antigone | Antigone | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1961 | The Guns of Navarone | Maria Pappadimos | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | Bouboulina | Laskarina Bouboulina | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | Pssst ... girls! | Eleni | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Tribute to a Bad Man | Jocasta Constantine | Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | Attila | Grune | Flop | Similar → |
| 1954 | Theodora, Slave Empress | Faidia | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Vortice | Clara | Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | The Man From Cairo | Yvonne Lebeau | Flop | Similar → |
| 1953 | The Unfaithfuls | Luisa Azzali | Flop | Similar → |
| 1951 | Dead City | Lena | Average | Similar → |
| 1948 | Fallen Angels | Liana | Average | Similar → |
Irene Papas - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Irene Papas?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Irene Papas is "Z" with a rating of 7.8/10.
How many movies has Irene Papas acted in?
Irene Papas has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Irene Papas?
Other notable films include "Odissea", "Antigone", and "Zorba the Greek".




