Marika Kotopouli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marika Kotopouli
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 3 May 1887 |
| Died | 11 September 1954 (aged 67) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Spouse(s) |
Georgios Chelmis
(m. 1923) |
Marika Kotopouli (Greek: Μαρίκα Κοτοπούλη) was a very famous Greek stage actress. She lived during the first half of the 20th century and was known for her amazing performances.
Contents
Biography of Marika Kotopouli
Marika Kotopouli was born in Athens, Greece, on May 3, 1887. Her parents, Dimitrios and Eleni Kotopoulis, were also actors. Marika first appeared on stage during one of her parents' tours. This was in a play called "The Coachman of the Alps."
Early Career and Rivalry
Marika officially started her acting career in 1903 at the Royal Theatre. Later, in 1906, she traveled to Paris to study theater. By 1908, Marika had her very own acting group, called a "troupe." She also had her own theater, known as the "Kotopouli Theatre."
During this time, Marika had a big artistic rivalry with another young actress named Cybele. Both actresses had many dedicated fans. Their rivalry even became linked to politics during a period in Greece called the National Schism. Cybele was favored by a political group called the Venizelists. Marika, however, became a symbol for the royalist side.
In 1912, Marika also had a personal relationship with Ion Dragoumis. He was a major opponent of the Venizelists. Later, Marika and Cybele worked together on plays. They performed together from 1932 to 1934 and again from 1950 to 1952.
Later Life and Achievements
Marika married Georgios Chelmis in 1923. She later helped start a theater group called the "Free Scene" (Ελεύθερη Σκηνή) from 1929 to 1930. After this, she went on a tour of the United States.
In 1933, Marika acted in her only movie. It was a Greek-Turkish film called Bad Road. This movie was based on a book by Grigorios Xenopoulos.
A new theater, the Rex, was built just for her acting troupe in 1936. It was located on Panepistimiou Street in central Athens. This theater is still standing today and is known as the Rex/Kotopouli theater. It now works as a part of the National Theatre of Greece. Marika performed in many classic plays. These included ancient Greek plays and modern ones by famous writers like Aeschylus, Goethe, and Ibsen.
Death of Marika Kotopouli
Marika Kotopouli's last performance was in Syros on March 24, 1953. She passed away on September 11, 1954, in her hometown of Athens. She was 67 years old. Marika received a state funeral, which is a special ceremony held by the government.
Honours and Legacy
Marika Kotopouli received several important awards and honors for her work:
- She was given the Gold Cross of the Order of George I in 1921.
- She also received the Education Ministry's Arts and Letters Prize in 1923.
- The Marika Kotopouli Award was created in 1951 to honor Greek actors.
- Her home in Zografou was turned into the Marika Kotopouli Museum. This museum opened in 1990 and shows modern art.
