Zoe Laskari
Encyclopedia
Zoe Laskari is a Greek
film
and theatre
actress, one of the most popular in Greece
.
, from a middle class
family which had a long tradition of service to the Hellenic Army
. At an early age she lost both her parents and was raised by her paternal grandparents. In 1959, at the age of 15, she won the title of Star Hellas
(Miss Greece) and went on to represent Greece
at the Miss Universe
pageant in Long Beach, California
where she made it to the semifinals. However, while her being in the United States
, it was revealed that she was not an adult yet, as she had hidden her real age, and she was asked to return back to Greece. She refused to do so and managed to live alone in New York City
for a period.
Laskari's personal life has always been on the forefront of the Greek media. She had once a love affair with the popular singer Tolis Voskopoulos
. In 1967 she married the industrialist Petros Koutoumanos, with whom she gave birth to her first daughter, Martha Koutoumanou. Their marriage ended in 1971. In June 1976, she was married with the criminologist Alexandros Lykourezos, having her second daughter Maria-Eleni Lykourezou.
during the season 1962-63 and was played for 57 consecutive weeks in the cinemas of Mexico City
. As a result she became one of the major stars of the cinema of Greece
and starred in some of the most popular films, most of them directed by Dalianidis, who was her mentor, while she was described as his muse.
Zoe Laskari, along with Tzeni Karezi
and Aliki Vougiouklaki
, were considered the three greatest diva
s and the most commercially successful female stars of the Greek cinema. The films she starred in ranged from drama
to comedy
and musical
. It is interesting that the leading role in her first film, O katiforos, was given to her after Aliki Vougiouklaki had turned it down as too piquant. So, Laskari grabbed the chance and developed into one of Vougiouklaki's biggest commercial rivals.
Some of her later movies made also a sensation abroad like the film Stefania (1966), which was screened for several weeks in 18 Europe
an countries, while Oi Thalassies oi Hadres
(1967) impressed the Cannes Film Festival
, although it did not officially contest, and paparazzi followed her everywhere during her stay in Cannes
. Among her magazine covers were those on the French
magazine "Cine Monde" in 1967 and 1968. Other Laskari's great film hits were the movies Nomos 4000, Merikoi to protimoun kryo, Koritsia gia filima, Dakrya gia tin Ilektra, Mia kyria sta bouzoukia and Marihouana stop.
In 1965 she formed her own stable and made her stage debut in 1966 in Cyprus
, while she was studying at the Pellos Katselis Theatre School from which she graduated in 1969. But it was not until the decline of the commercial Greek cinema in the mid-1970s that she really concetrated on theatre. Her stage work included famous plays like Edward Albee
's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
, the ancient Greek
tragedy
The Trojan Women
by Euripides
and Neil Simon
's Barefoot in the Park
. Her theatrical hits include the play Oi erastes tou Oneirou which was also her first play in Athens
. Laskari's first television appearance was her leading role in the TV series Romaios kai Ioulieta in 1976.
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
actress, one of the most popular in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
Life
Zoe Laskari was born Zoe Kouroukli in ThessalonikiThessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, from a middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
family which had a long tradition of service to the Hellenic Army
Hellenic Army
The Hellenic Army , formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece.The motto of the Hellenic Army is , "Freedom Stems from Valor", from Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War...
. At an early age she lost both her parents and was raised by her paternal grandparents. In 1959, at the age of 15, she won the title of Star Hellas
Star Hellas
Star Hellas-Miss Hellas-Miss Young is the longest-running beauty pageant in Greece. The winner of the contest is crowned Star Hellas and goes on to represent Greece in Miss Universe, B Star Hellas goes to Miss International while Miss Hellas goes to Miss World...
(Miss Greece) and went on to represent Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
at the Miss Universe
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
pageant in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
where she made it to the semifinals. However, while her being in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, it was revealed that she was not an adult yet, as she had hidden her real age, and she was asked to return back to Greece. She refused to do so and managed to live alone in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for a period.
Laskari's personal life has always been on the forefront of the Greek media. She had once a love affair with the popular singer Tolis Voskopoulos
Tolis Voskopoulos
Apostolos Voskopoulos is one of the legends of modern Greek music. He also starred in many films and played in the Theatre in Athens....
. In 1967 she married the industrialist Petros Koutoumanos, with whom she gave birth to her first daughter, Martha Koutoumanou. Their marriage ended in 1971. In June 1976, she was married with the criminologist Alexandros Lykourezos, having her second daughter Maria-Eleni Lykourezou.
Career
Because of her success at the beauty pageant, Giannis Dalianidis, famous Greek film director, offered her the starring role in the film O katiforos in 1961. The success of the movie gave her a rapid popularity and she shortly signed an exclusive contract with the biggest Greek film production company at the time, Finos Film, and it is impressive that her first movie was number one in the box-office in MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
during the season 1962-63 and was played for 57 consecutive weeks in the cinemas of Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. As a result she became one of the major stars of the cinema of Greece
Cinema of Greece
Greece has a long and rich cinematic history. Greek films dominate the domestic market, for example Safe Sex had more box office receipts than Titanic. Characteristics of Greek cinema include a dynamic plot, strong character development and erotic themes...
and starred in some of the most popular films, most of them directed by Dalianidis, who was her mentor, while she was described as his muse.
Zoe Laskari, along with Tzeni Karezi
Tzeni Karezi
Tzeni Karezi was a Greek film and theatre actress. She was considered one of the most popular and successful actresses of the cinema of Greece.-Early life:...
and Aliki Vougiouklaki
Aliki Vougiouklaki
Aliki Vougiouklaki was a Greek actress. She is considered as one of the most popular and successful actresses of Greek cinema.-Biography:...
, were considered the three greatest diva
Diva
A diva is a celebrated female singer. The term is used to describe a woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, and, by extension, in theatre, cinema and popular music. The meaning of diva is closely related to that of "prima donna"....
s and the most commercially successful female stars of the Greek cinema. The films she starred in ranged from drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
to comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
and musical
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
. It is interesting that the leading role in her first film, O katiforos, was given to her after Aliki Vougiouklaki had turned it down as too piquant. So, Laskari grabbed the chance and developed into one of Vougiouklaki's biggest commercial rivals.
Some of her later movies made also a sensation abroad like the film Stefania (1966), which was screened for several weeks in 18 Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an countries, while Oi Thalassies oi Hadres
Oi Thalassies oi Hadres
Oi Thalassies oi Hadres is a 1967 Greek musical film, directed by Giannis Dalianidis and starring Zoe Laskari, Kostas Voutsas, Martha Karagianni, Faidon Georgitsis, Giannis Vogiatzis and Mary Chronopoulou...
(1967) impressed the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
, although it did not officially contest, and paparazzi followed her everywhere during her stay in Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
. Among her magazine covers were those on the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
magazine "Cine Monde" in 1967 and 1968. Other Laskari's great film hits were the movies Nomos 4000, Merikoi to protimoun kryo, Koritsia gia filima, Dakrya gia tin Ilektra, Mia kyria sta bouzoukia and Marihouana stop.
In 1965 she formed her own stable and made her stage debut in 1966 in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, while she was studying at the Pellos Katselis Theatre School from which she graduated in 1969. But it was not until the decline of the commercial Greek cinema in the mid-1970s that she really concetrated on theatre. Her stage work included famous plays like Edward Albee
Edward Albee
Edward Franklin Albee III is an American playwright who is best known for The Zoo Story , The Sandbox , Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? , and a rewrite of the screenplay for the unsuccessful musical version of Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's . His works are considered well-crafted, often...
's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a play by Edward Albee that opened on Broadway at the Billy Rose Theater on October 13, 1962. The original cast featured Uta Hagen as Martha, Arthur Hill as George, Melinda Dillon as Honey and George Grizzard as Nick. It was directed by Alan Schneider...
, the ancient Greek
Theatre of Ancient Greece
The theatre of Ancient Greece, or ancient Greek drama, is a theatrical culture that flourished in ancient Greece between c. 550 and c. 220 BC. The city-state of Athens, which became a significant cultural, political and military power during this period, was its centre, where it was...
tragedy
Tragedy
Tragedy is a form of art based on human suffering that offers its audience pleasure. While most cultures have developed forms that provoke this paradoxical response, tragedy refers to a specific tradition of drama that has played a unique and important role historically in the self-definition of...
The Trojan Women
The Trojan Women
The Trojan Women is a tragedy by the Greek playwright Euripides. Produced during the Peloponnesian War, it is often considered a commentary on the capture of the Aegean island of Melos and the subsequent slaughter and subjugation of its populace by the Athenians earlier in 415 BC , the same year...
by Euripides
Euripides
Euripides was one of the three great tragedians of classical Athens, the other two being Aeschylus and Sophocles. Some ancient scholars attributed ninety-five plays to him but according to the Suda it was ninety-two at most...
and Neil Simon
Neil Simon
Neil Simon is an American playwright and screenwriter. He has written numerous Broadway plays, including Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, and The Odd Couple. He won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Lost In Yonkers. He has written the screenplays for several of his plays that...
's Barefoot in the Park
Barefoot in the Park
This article is about the Broadway production. For the film adaptation see Barefoot in the Park .Barefoot in the Park is a romantic comedy by Neil Simon. The original Broadway production, directed by Mike Nichols, opened October 23, 1963, with the four lead roles taken by actors Elizabeth Ashley ,...
. Her theatrical hits include the play Oi erastes tou Oneirou which was also her first play in Athens
Athens
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...
. Laskari's first television appearance was her leading role in the TV series Romaios kai Ioulieta in 1976.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 1961 in film The year 1961 in film involved some significant events, with West Side Story winning 10 Academy Awards.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:* Atlantis, the Lost ContinentB... |
O katiforos The Downhill The Downhill is a 1961 Greek drama film made by Finos Films. It was directed by Giannis Dalianidis and starring Zoi Laskari, Nikos Kourkoulos, Vangelis Voulgaridis and Pantelis Zervos.... |
Rea Nikolaou | box office Box office A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket.... : 161,331 |
| 1962 1962 in film The year 1962 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May - The Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards are officially founded by the Taiwanese government.... |
Nomos 4000 | Maria Oikonomou | box office Box office A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket.... : 118,841 |
| Horis taftotita | Liana Mavroleontos | ||
| O atsidas | Anna Kourouzou | box office Box office A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket.... : 69,414 |
|
| 1963 1963 in film The year 1963 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* June 12 - Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rex Harrison and Richard Burton premieres at the Rivoli Theatre in New York City.... |
Merikoi to protimoun kryo Merikoi to protimoun kryo Merikoi to protimoun kryo translations: Some Like it Cold is a 1963 Greek comedy film directed by Giannis Dalianidis. Lakis , Rena , Eva and Mary are four cousins that were secretly with standards with Lela , Thodoros , Giorgis and Kleopa... |
Eva Aggelou | box office Box office A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket.... : 212,247 |
| Iliggos | Elli | ||
| Ena koritsi gia dyo | Myrto | box office Box office A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket.... : 386,817 |
|
| 1964 1964 in film The year 1964 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 29 - The film Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is released.... |
Egoismos | Maria | box office Box office A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket.... : 344,675 |
| 1965 1965 in film The year 1965 in film involved some significant events, with The Sound of Music topping the U.S. box office.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:... |
Teddy boy agapi mou Teddy boy agapi mou Teddy Boy agapi mou is a 1965 Greek comedy film directed by Alekos Sakellarios.-Plot:Zoi Laskari and Kostas Voutsas which were characters that fell in love, even though they encountered their relatives in which they were widows that had a bond.-Cast:*Zoe Laskari ...... |
Zoe Eftyhidou | |
| Koritsia gia filima | Tzeni | box office Box office A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket.... : 619,236 |
|
| Istoria mias zois | Marigo / Maria / Mairi | ||
| 1966 1966 in film The year 1966 in film involved some significant events.-Events:Animation legend Walter Disney, well known for his creation of Mickey Mouse, died in 15 December 1966 of acute circulatory collapse following a diagnosis of, and surgery for, lung cancer... |
Stefania | Stefania Karali | |
| Dakrya gia tin Ilektra | Ilektra Petridi | box office Box office A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket.... : 328,277 |
|
| 1967 1967 in film The year 1967 in film involved some significant events. It is widely considered as one of the most ground-breaking years in film.-Events:* December 26 - The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour airs on British television.... |
Oi Thalassies oi Hadres Oi Thalassies oi Hadres Oi Thalassies oi Hadres is a 1967 Greek musical film, directed by Giannis Dalianidis and starring Zoe Laskari, Kostas Voutsas, Martha Karagianni, Faidon Georgitsis, Giannis Vogiatzis and Mary Chronopoulou... |
Mary Kaniatoglou | box office Box office A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket.... : 531,278 |
| 1968 1968 in film The year 1968 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 30 - The film The Lion in Winter, starring Katharine Hepburn, debuts.* November 1 - The MPAA's film rating system is introduced.-Top grossing films :- Awards :... |
Olga agapi mou | Olga Panagiotidoi-Vassileiadou | box office Box office A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket.... : 367,559 |
| Mia kyria sta bouzoukia | Anna Masourou | box office Box office A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket.... : 615,483 |
|
| Gymnoi sto dromo | Xenia Koumarianou | ||
| 1969 1969 in film The year 1969 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* Last year for prize giving at the Venice Film Festival until it is revived in 1980... |
Agapi gia panta | Eleni | |
| 1970 1970 in film The year 1970 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 9 - Larry Fine, the second member of The Three Stooges, suffers a massive stroke, therefore ending his career.... |
Aftoi pou milisan me ton thanato | ||
| 1971 1971 in film The year 1971 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*February 8 - Bob Dylan's hour long documentary film, Eat the Document, premieres at New York's Academy of Music... |
Marihuana stop | Kaiti Lagopoulou | box office Box office A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket.... : 312,260 |
| 1972 1972 in film The year 1972 in film involved some significant events.-Top grossing films :- Awards :Academy Awards:*Avanti!, directed by Billy Wilder, starring Jack Lemmon and Juliet MillsB... |
Aixmalotoi tou misous | Viky Kouvariotou | box office Box office A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket.... : 124,745 |
| 1973 1973 in film The year 1973 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*The Marx Brothers' Zeppo Marx divorces his second wife, Barbara Blakely. Blakely would later marry actor/singer Frank Sinatra.... |
Ston asterismo tis Parthenou | Koula | box office Box office A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket.... : 120,010 |
| 1974 1974 in film The year 1974 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*February 7 - Blazing Saddles is released in the USA.*August 7 - Peter Wolf, lead singer of The J... |
Erastes tou oneirou Erastes tou oneirou Erastes tou oneirou is a 1974 Greek comedy film directed and written by Giannis Dalianidis. Dimitris carried away fro his brother and went to robbed a villa in which Zoi lives and that made their recognition of their romance. The movie made 70,456 tickets.-Cast:*Zoe Laskari ....... |
Zoe | box office Box office A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket.... : 70,456 |
| 1982 1982 in film -Events:* March 26 = I Ought to Be in Pictures, starring Walter Matthau, Ann-Margret and Dinah Manoff is released. Manoff would not appear in another movie until 1987's Backfire.* June = PG-rated film E.T... |
Anametrisi | Anna |