Melina Mercouri

"Actor, politician and champion of culture"

Maria Amalia (Melina) Mercouri

18 October 1920, Athens, Greece

6 March 1994 (aged 73), New York City, USA

1944: She played Electra in the National Theatre of Greece's production of Eugene O' Neill's Mourning Becomes Electra.
1949: Her breakthrough performance was as Blanche Dubois in the production of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire.
From 1949 to 1954: She left for Paris where she lived and acted.
1955: She returned to Greece.
1960: Gained international fame with the film "Never on Sunday", earning a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.
From 1967 to 1974: Melina became a vocal opponent of the Greek military junta, living in exile and campaigning for democracy.
After democracy was restored: She returned to Greece, where she contributed to the establishment of the Pan Hellenic Socialist Party (PASOK) and became deeply engaged in the women's movement in the country.
From 1981 to 1989 & from 1993 to 1994: Melina served as Greece's Minister of Culture.
1988: She began campaigning for dialogue and cooperation with the countries of eastern Europe.
Early 1990s: She continued to act on stage and also to be a member of the parliament.
1993: When PASOK returned to power, Melina returned to the Ministry of Culture.

Greek Minister of Culture: She was appointed as the Greek Minister of Culture, where she began to advocate for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece from the British Museum (1981).
European Capital of Culture Program: Initiated the European Capital of Culture program to celebrate the diverse cultural heritage of Europe and to promote cultural exchange.
Advocate for Cultural Heritage: As Minister of Culture, she continued to advocate for cultural heritage preservation and international cultural cooperation.
Concept of European Capital of Culture: Proposed the concept of the European Capital of Culture to promote cultural integration and understanding within Europe.
Melina Mercouri Foundation: The Melina Mercouri Foundation was established to support cultural heritage projects and initiatives in Greece and Europe (1994).
UNESCO-Greece Melina Mercouri International Prize: It was created in 1995, after her death, to reward outstanding examples of action to safeguard and enhance the world's cultural landscapes.

Melina Mercouri is remembered as a passionate advocate for Greek culture and European integration; her proposal for the European Capital of Culture has become a significant cultural initiative within the European Union.
As Minister of Culture, she worked tirelessly to promote Greece's cultural heritage.
Mercouri's dedication to cultural diplomacy and her vision for a united Europe through culture have left a lasting impact on the European Union.