Katina Paxinou: the Greek woman who won an Oscar

How well known is it in our country that a Greek woman has won an Oscar? Probably not very, considering that Katina Paxinou appeared in only 11 films, only one of which was Greek, and that she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film "For Whom the Bell Tolls" was awarded in 1944, in the midst of World War II, which contributed to the news going almost unnoticed in Greece.

Aikaterini Konstantopoulou, as was her maiden name, was born on this day, December 17, 1900, in Piraeus. Coming from an upper-class family, she studied music and classical singing in Geneva, Berlin, and Vienna. In 1932, she joined the National Theater, participating in performances of ancient tragedies and works from the classical repertoire. During the same period, she met the actor Alexis Minotis, whom she married in 1939, after separating from her first husband, the industrialist Ioannis Paxinos.

When the war broke out in 1940, she moved to the United States and appeared in Broadway theatre productions. In 1943, she was offered a role in the film adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's novel "For Whom the Bell Tolls," directed by Sam Wood. Despite her initial reservations, she accepted the role of the Spanish guerrilla Pilar, alongside Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman. A year later, she was honored with an Oscar, as the first non-American actress and the first from Greece to receive this distinction.

In 1950, she returned permanently to Greece and rejoined the National Theater. On June 19, 1955, she starred in Euripides' "Hecuba," directed by Minotis, in the performance that officially inaugurated the Epidaurus Festival. In the years that followed, her name became inextricably linked with the institution through iconic roles such as Medea, Clytemnestra, and Jocasta.

Despite being diagnosed with cancer in 1969, she remained active in acting until the early 1970s. Katerina Paxinou died on February 22, 1973. Her funeral was held at public expense, attended by thousands of people who paid tribute to one of the leading tragediennes of the 20th century.

Photos:

1. Katerina Paxinou with Alexis Minotis in a train carriage, probably during their European tour, late 1950s – early 1960s. (Telecommunications Museum, Floros Brothers Archive – Nikos L. Floros)
2. The actress arriving at or leaving a public event, late 1960s – early 1970s. (Telecommunications Museum, Floros Brothers Archive – Nikos L. Floros)