Marika Kotopouli
Encyclopedia
Marika Kotopouli was a major Greek actress during the first half of the 20th century.
, to Dimitris and Eleni. Her parents were also actors, and Marika's first stage appearance came during one of their tours, in the play "The Coachman of the Alps". She made her official debut in the Royal Theatre
in 1903, before going to Paris
in 1906 for theatrical studies.
From 1908, she had her own troupe, and theatre, the "Kotopouli Theatre". In this period she developed an intense artistic rivalry with another young actress, Kyveli. The two had very devoted fans, and during the National Schism, their rivalry acquired political overtones also: whilst Kyveli was favoured by the Venizelists
, Kotopouli became a symbol of the royalist camp. In 1912 Kotopouli also had a personal love relationship with Ion Dragoumis
, who became a major opponent of the Venizelists and was eventually assassinated. Kotopouli and Kyveli collaborated in joint productions from 1932–1934 and again from 1950-1952.
She married Georgios Helmi in 1923. With Spyros Melas and Dimitris Myrat, she co-founded and participated in the "Free Scene" (Ελεύθερη Σκηνή, June 1929 to spring 1930), before embarking on a tour of the United States
. In 1933, she played in her only movie, the Greek-Turkish production Bad Road, based on a novel by Grigorios Xenopoulos. A new theatre, the Rex, was built specifically for her troupe in Panepistimiou Street
in central Athens in 1936. It still stands, as the Rex/Kotopouli theatre, and functions as a branch of the National Theatre of Greece. Her repertoire included many classic plays, both ancient Greek and modern ones, ranging from Aeschylus
to Goethe and Ibsen
.
Her final appearance was in Syros
on 24 March 1953. Marika Kotopouli died on 3 September 1954, aged 67.
in 1921, and with the Education Ministry's arts and letters prize in 1923.
Kotopouli's old holiday home in the Athens suburb of Zografou
was converted into the Marika Kotopouli Museum, which opened in 1990 and features exhibitions of modern art. In addition, the Marika Kotopouli Award was founded in 1951 to honour Greek actors.
Biography
Kotopouli was born on 3 May 1887 in AthensAthens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, to Dimitris and Eleni. Her parents were also actors, and Marika's first stage appearance came during one of their tours, in the play "The Coachman of the Alps". She made her official debut in the Royal Theatre
National Theatre of Greece
The National Theatre of Greece is based in Athens, Greece.-History:The theatre was originally founded in 1880 with a grant from King George I and Efstratios Rallis to give theatre a permanent home in Athens...
in 1903, before going to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1906 for theatrical studies.
From 1908, she had her own troupe, and theatre, the "Kotopouli Theatre". In this period she developed an intense artistic rivalry with another young actress, Kyveli. The two had very devoted fans, and during the National Schism, their rivalry acquired political overtones also: whilst Kyveli was favoured by the Venizelists
Venizelism
Venizelism was one of the major political movements in Greece from the 1900s until the mid 1970s.- Ideology :Named after Eleftherios Venizelos, the key characteristics of Venizelism were:*Opposition to Monarchy...
, Kotopouli became a symbol of the royalist camp. In 1912 Kotopouli also had a personal love relationship with Ion Dragoumis
Ion Dragoumis
Ion Dragoumis was a Greek diplomat, writer and revolutionary.Born in Athens, Dragoumis was the son of Stephanos Dragoumis who was foreign minister under Charilaos Trikoupis. The family originated in Vogatsiko in Kastoria...
, who became a major opponent of the Venizelists and was eventually assassinated. Kotopouli and Kyveli collaborated in joint productions from 1932–1934 and again from 1950-1952.
She married Georgios Helmi in 1923. With Spyros Melas and Dimitris Myrat, she co-founded and participated in the "Free Scene" (Ελεύθερη Σκηνή, June 1929 to spring 1930), before embarking on a tour of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1933, she played in her only movie, the Greek-Turkish production Bad Road, based on a novel by Grigorios Xenopoulos. A new theatre, the Rex, was built specifically for her troupe in Panepistimiou Street
Panepistimiou Street
Panepistimiou Street is a major street in Athens that runs one way for non-transit vehicles since 2002 from Amalias Avenue, Syntagma Square and Vassilissis Sofias Avenue to Omonoia Square in which is now a pedestrian crossing and before an intersection...
in central Athens in 1936. It still stands, as the Rex/Kotopouli theatre, and functions as a branch of the National Theatre of Greece. Her repertoire included many classic plays, both ancient Greek and modern ones, ranging from Aeschylus
Aeschylus
Aeschylus was the first of the three ancient Greek tragedians whose work has survived, the others being Sophocles and Euripides, and is often described as the father of tragedy. His name derives from the Greek word aiskhos , meaning "shame"...
to Goethe and Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...
.
Her final appearance was in Syros
Syros
Syros , or Siros or Syra is a Greek island in the Cyclades, in the Aegean Sea. It is located south-east of Athens. The area of the island is . The largest towns are Ermoupoli, Ano Syros, and Vari. Ermoupoli is the capital of the island and the Cyclades...
on 24 March 1953. Marika Kotopouli died on 3 September 1954, aged 67.
Honours
During her lifetime, she was honoured with the Gold Cross of the Order of George IOrder of George I
The Royal Order of George I is a defunct order of Greece.- History :The order was founded in 1915 by King Constantine I in honor of his father, George I. It was only the second Greek order to be created after the Order of the Redeemer in 1833, and remained the second senior award of the Greek...
in 1921, and with the Education Ministry's arts and letters prize in 1923.
Kotopouli's old holiday home in the Athens suburb of Zografou
Zografou
Zografou is a suburb in the eastern part of Athens, Greece. It is located about 5 km from downtown Athens, 2 km SW of Katechaki Avenue, 4 km from the Hymettus Ring forming part of the Attiki Odos private superhighway network, and 3 km E of Kifissias Avenue...
was converted into the Marika Kotopouli Museum, which opened in 1990 and features exhibitions of modern art. In addition, the Marika Kotopouli Award was founded in 1951 to honour Greek actors.