Zoi Voudouri

Acting · 1917–2013 · Athens, Greece

Zoe Voudouri was an actress from an old theatrical family, who worked mainly in touring troupes. However, her great recognition by the public came at an advanced age, after she became one of the beloved grandmothers of the films and television series of the 80s. Born in 1917, daughter of the old actor Dimitris Voudouris, who was one of the founding members of the Greek Actors' Union, and is remembered as "the main colleague" in the film "Laterna ftokhia kai kyryfallo". She appeared in the Theater at the age of just 40 days, participating in the folk drama "Genoveva", with her father's touring troupe, on tour in Kalamata. She was a self-taught actress, having learned her craft on the stage, with her father as her main teacher. Her first professional role was in 1930, in Dimitris Koromilas' play "The Shepherdess' Lover", with the touring troupe of the Bograkou brothers in Crete. From then until 1954, she would continuously participate in touring troupes, in which her father also participated. Among them were the troupes of the Bograkou brothers, Yiannis Chemonidis, and Theodoros Kefalopoulos. Touring throughout Greece, but mainly in the Peloponnese. During the occupation, her family had settled in the Peloponnese, working there with their own troupe.

Full biography

In 1954 he collaborated with Takis Kontaxis's troupe. While in 1955 he will appear in Aristophanes' comedy "Lysistrata" with Linos Karzis' Thymelic troupe. In 1958 he will participate in Aliki Theodoridou's troupe, in the theatrical adaptation of Elias Venezis' novel "Galini". From 1962 to 1967 he will work alongside Manos Katrakis, and at the Greek People's Theatre. There we will see her in the performances of the works: "The Shepherdess' Lover" by Dimitrios Koromilas, "The Song of the Dead Brother" by Mikis Theodorakis, "The Girl with the Ribbon" by Notis Pergiali, "That Strange Animal" by Anton Chekhov, "Captain Michael" by Nikos Kazantzakis, "Karaiskakis" by Dimitrios Fotiadis, "Golfo" by Peresiadis, and "The Cross and the Sword" by Angelos Terzakis. In 1970 she will collaborate with the troupe of Dionysios Papagiannopoulos in the comedy "The Last Honest One". In 1973 we meet her in the troupe of Kostas Karras, in the performance of the play "Royal Romance" by George Roussos. In 1975 she will appear in the play "Lady Chatterley's Lover" by Lawrence, a performance staged by the Vangelis Ploios - Ria Deloutsis troupe. In 1980 she will collaborate with the Angelos Antonopoulos troupe, performing the role of Martha in Margaret Kennedy's play "After the Storm". In 1982 she will collaborate with the Maskes troupe, in Iakovos Kampanellis' play "The Woman and the Mistake". In 1984 she will participate in the Jenny Karezi - Costas Kazakos troupe, performing the role of Bertha in Henrik Ibsen's drama "Edda Gambler". In 1985 she will collaborate with the Agrinio Municipal Theatre, in the performance of Lorca's play "Bloody Marriage". From 1986 to 1988 she will collaborate with the Municipal Theatre of Komotini, and will appear in the plays, "Tartufos" by Moliere, and "Fan" by Goldoni. While later she will also collaborate with the Municipal Theatre of Serres. As well as with the Municipal Theatre of Roumeli.