Singer, actress and public figure Melina Mercury was called the Greek woman who conquered the world, the last goddess of Hellas. She became the first woman in Greece to hold the post of Minister of Culture.
Melina Mercury is recognized as one of the most beautiful women of the twentieth century.
It's time for childhood and adolescence
Maria Amalia Merkuris was born in Athens in 1920 on October 18. For several decades, her grandfather was the mayor of the city.
His father was a well-known politician, a member of the National Socialist Party of Greece. In addition to the future celebrity, her younger brother Spyros grew up in the family.
Since her birth, the girl has attracted increased attention. She did not at all resemble the well-mannered, quiet representatives of decent families.
The parents parted, and Melina remained with her mother. Maria Amalia often fell in love violently and indiscriminately, she was not afraid of anything.
The girl managed to get the certificate only thanks to the bodyguards assigned to her constantly. They very expressively looked into the eyes of the examiners, playing with their weapons.
Young Merkuris did not marry, but jumped out. And the marriage was concluded not for love, but in spite of everyone.
The daughter informed her parents about the new status of a married lady by telegram, only after leaving for her honeymoon. Her chosen one was the wealthy landowner Panos Haropopos, the son of influential residents of the capital.
Thanks to a lucrative marriage, Melina managed to survive during the occupation of her native country by the Nazis. Her husband became her reliable protection. At its core, a fictitious marriage lasted more than two decades. However, the couple did not live together for long.
Vocation
From childhood, Mary's passion was theater. Her husband did not interfere with this, since he himself was convinced of her stubbornness.
At eighteen, she entered the Greek School of Dramatic Art at the National Theater. The aspiring actress made her debut in the title role in one of his productions in 1944.
The first heroine was Lavinia in O'Neill's play "Mourning Befits Electra." However, the performer received real recognition after Blanche Dubois from Williams' Streetcar Named Desire.
For a very long time she was associated with this role both at home and in America. Since 1951, the girl's performances began on the theatrical stage in Paris. She later played on Broadway as well.
For the first time, the performer made her film debut in 1955. She took the pseudonym Melina Mercury. A successful start to her film career was her work in Stella, a production of Kakoyannis.
The actress was nominated in Cannes in 1956 for the Palme d'Or. The sensation film did not receive the prize, largely thanks to Melina herself.
Cannes remembered for a long time the scale with which the Greek delegation walked. They say that then Mercury met Sergei Yutkevich, who received an award for the best director of his "Othello".
Family happiness
Although Melina did not receive the coveted prize, her winnings turned out to be much better. At the festival, she met Jules Dassin.
The father of the later famous singer Joe Dassin came from the family of a Jewish barber who left Russia during the tsarist regime.
The Frenchman became the second husband of Melina. He was her constant source of inspiration to the end.
The creative tandem has become a real find for the director and actress, bringing fame to both. The joint work in the 1960 film "Never on Sunday" brought worldwide popularity.
Melina reincarnated as a Piraeus prostitute, the real and undivided ruler and queen of the port. The work resulted in the Silver Prize of the Cannes Festival for Best Actress and Oscar for Best Foreign Film.
Together, the couple shot nine films, and the work has always become successful. In 1964, the "black colonels" seized power in Greece. Melina had to leave for France.
Anti-dictatorship protests led to the deprivation of Greek citizenship. Melina reacted very temperamentally to the decision of the head of government, saying that she was born a Greek and would die by her.
Mr. Pattakos, who was at the head of the government, according to her, was born and will die as a fascist.
Social activity
In France, Mercury performed for the first time in a singing role. She has recorded works in German, French and Greek. Many of her songs have become hits.
One of their songs, "Hartino to Fengaraki", was performed in a Greek production of Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire.
The performer also performed on television. In 1971, Mercury published her autobiography I Was Born a Greek. Then she began political activity.
The couple returned to Melina's homeland in 1974 after the overthrow of the dictatorship. She became a member of Parliament and one of the founders of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement, and since 1981 also the country's Minister of Culture.
The public figure believed that it was culture that was the main export product. Therefore, it is important to work on its popularization throughout the world.
Melina assured that if the heritage of Greece is lost, the country will be left with nothing. The politician advocated the return of the Parthenon sculptures to the country from Britain, was engaged in the construction of a new building for the Acropolis Museum, and supported the idea of holding the International Games in Delphi.
The people called Melina the last Greek goddess. Until her last days, Mercury was active in politics.
She died on March 6, 1994 from lung cancer. Buried in the center of the capital of Greece.
Life after leaving
A photograph of Melina smiling against the background of the Parthenon adorns the modern metro station "Acropolis".
Before the construction of the museum, the celebrity did not live up to fifteen years.
After the death of his wife, Jules Dassin continued her work. He named the foundation he founded after his wife.
The organization is working on the return of Greek marble to the Parthenon, conducting educational activities around the world, telling about the culture of the country. Melina's Foundation is coordinated by her brother. He sits on the board of the organization.
