Mercouri, Melina (1925-1994), was a Greek actress and politician. She served as minister of culture in the socialist government from 1981 to 1989 and from 1993 until her death. Mercouri traveled widely, promoting Greek arts and sports, and the feminist cause.
Mercouri was stripped of her citizenship by the military junta (dictatorship by a group) that took power in Greece in 1967. She lived in Paris, continuing her acting career while campaigning for civilian government in Greece. She returned to Greece in 1974 after the junta fell. In 1977, Mercouri was elected to Parliament for a poor district of Athens where her father was once deputy mayor.
Maria Amalia Mercouri was born on Oct. 18, 1925, in Athens. In her early career, she trained at the Greek National Theatre. In 1955, Mercouri made her motion-picture debut in Stella. She won international fame in 1960 with Never on Sunday, directed by her American husband, Jules Dassin. She received an Academy Award nomination as best actress for her role in the film. Another notable film in which Mercouri starred was Topkapi (1964), also directed by Dassin. Her autobiography, I Was Born Greek, was published in 1971. Mercouri died on March 6, 1994.
