Ellie Lambeti
Ellie Lambeti, famous for her theatrical performances, became a beloved figure in the world of acting due to her exceptional talent and passion for the stage. She embodied her roles with a delicate yet commanding presence that captivated audiences and earned her a devoted following. Despite enduring significant losses in her personal life, she never lost her love for theatre and always returned to it.
Born in Vilia, Attica in 13th of April 1926, as Elli Loukou. Elli's family relocated to Athens when she was two years old. While on her way to school, she would pass by the National Theatre and dream of performing on its stage one day. Though she was initially rejected from the National Theatre's drama school, her uncle, who was an actor, encouraged her to continue pursuing her dreams. Eventually, her talent was recognized by Marika Kotopouli, who took her into her own school and helped Ellie change her name from Elli Loukou to Elli Lambeti.
Ellie made her theatrical debut in 1942 in the play "Hannele Goes to Heaven," but it was her performance in "The Glass Menagerie" that truly cemented her status as an actress. She went on to achieve numerous successes in the theatre, as well as appearing in the film "The Unconquered Slaves."
In 1950, Elli Lambeti tied the knot with Marios Ploritis, but their marriage only lasted three years. Her intense love for Dimitris Horn, with whom she shared a fiery romance both on and off stage, changed everything. Together, they formed their theater troupe and quickly became a sensation, with audiences adoring them. During this period, Elli also worked with Michalis Kakogiannis in the film industry. However, their relationship and collaboration came to an end in 1959.
After her split with D. Horn in 1959, Elli created her own troupe and produced her greatest successes, such as "Bus Pothos", which received a congratulatory letter from G. Seferis, and "Miss Pepsi", which broke a record 400. Performances. Despite her personal problems, her most productive professional decade was in the 1970s, in which she directed the musical "Sweetheart" in 1972, "Crusader" in 1974, "Autumn History" in 1977, "Miss Margarita", " Marturano "and more. It is rumored that she directed some of her works since they are not mentioned anywhere the name of their director.
In Greek cinema, Elli had many achievements, including interpretations that stood out in "Girl in Black", "Sunday Awakening" and "Fake Pound". Her interpretation of "The Last Lie" gave her a BAFTA award nomination for the best actress. In addition, she sang in the first performance of the theatrical production "Sweet Hurma" and received many awards during her career, including the Kotopouli Award in 1951 for her interpretation of "The Heritage" and "Peg, My Heart", A film award in 1961 for the 1955-1961 films, the Ithaca Festival Award in 1980 for its many years of artistic contribution and in 1983 the Athens Granada Cinema, 106 Alexandra Avenue, was renamed the Theater of Lambetti.
In his biography of Elli Lampetti in 2006, Freddy Germanos notes that Elli was born in 1926, the same year as Marilyn Monroe, on the opposite Atlantic coast. Ellie Lampetti remains one of the most prominent Greek actors with the most beautiful sad smile.
Although Elli Lambeti's achievements on the stage and screen might suggest that she was a happy and successful actress, she had to face significant losses. Within a short period, she experienced the deaths of her mother, father, and two sisters. Furthermore, she was forced to undergo an abortion since her partner Dimitris Horn did not want to have children. As her sisters battled breast cancer, Elli realized she too might share their fate. Despite these challenges, she found solace in her art, using the intense dramatic dimension of her characters to process her grief. Elli collaborated with the National Theatre, the People's Theater of Manos Katrakis, and the State Theater of Northern Greece during this time.
In the 1970s, Elli's health began to decline, and she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite undergoing several surgeries and treatments, cancer eventually spread to her bones, and she was forced to retire from acting. However, even in her final years, she remained passionate about the theater and continued to attend performances.
In 1981, Elli Lambeti's vocal cords are affected by chemotherapy, leaving her unable to speak. Despite this setback, she finds solace in the play "Children of a Lesser God" and immerses herself in the role of Sarah, a deaf and mute character.
This would be her final performance. Unfortunately, Elli passed away on September 3, 1983, at the age of 57, in a hospital in the United States due to cancer.
She left behind a rich heritage of performances and a constant influence on Greek theater and cinema. Her life was proof of the power of art to heal and transform, and her dedication to her art continues to inspire young generations of actors and artists. Throughout her career she had played in 80 theatrical productions and 10 films, which is worth looking for:
Untammed slaves (1946)
Children of Athens (1947)
Behavior ... zero! (1949)
Bloody Christmas (1951)
Sunday awakening (1954)
The story of a fake pound (1955)
The girl in black (1956)
The last lie (1958)
Il Relitto (1961)
One day my father (1968)
The statue in her honor in her birthplace, Vilia.