Smaro Stefanidou

Smaro Stefanidou
Σμάρω Στεφανίδου
Born(1913-04-09)9 April 1913
Athens, Greece
Died7 November 2010(2010-11-07) (aged 97)
Athens, Greece
OccupationActress

Smaro Stefanidou (Greek: Σμάρω Στεφανίδου; 9 April 1913 – 7 November 2010[1]) was a Greek theatre, film, television and radio actress.

Biography

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Her family's origin is from Asia Minor. She graduated from Business School in Athens, she learned foreign languages and the piano. From a very young age she presented plays for children. Without telling her parents, she worked to pay for her tuition at the National Theatre Drama School, as her parents didn't want her to become an actress.

After her graduation from the Drama School, in 1937, she was hired by the top theatre star of these times, Marika Kotopouli. Since 1952 she was the main character actress in the company of Vassilis Logothetidis, with whom she stayed until his death, in 1960.

She also she acted alongside Katerina, Elli Lampeti, Dimitris Horn, Lambros Konstantaras, Giannis Fertis, Xenia Kalogeropoulou, Aliki Vougiouklaki, Stefanos Lineos, Giannis Gkionakis, Nikos Kourkoulos, Antonis Antypas and many more.

A bright point in her career was her rendition of queen Hecuba in the play Trojan Women by Euripides translated and directed by Giannis Tsarouchis at a makeshift theatre on Kaplanon Street and in Delphi At the "Tsarouhis Academy", as she playfully called it, she learned a lot from the charismatic artist.

She made her first cinema appearance in 1951, with G. Zervos' film "Four steps". Since then, she appeared in many movies, among which adaptations of theatre plays in which she had played. She also worked a lot for the radio, taking part in radio serials, radio theatre and readings of novels.

She married singer - chansonnier Vassos Seitanidis (1913–1965) Their daughter, Leda - Irene, now known as Leda Shantala, is a yoga teacher, Bharata natyam dancer/teacher/choreographer and dance therapist.

In autumn 2003 Smaro Stefanidou and her daughter created the "Shantom House of Culture", in Chalandri (a suburb of Athens), a centre hosting lessons, workshops and seminars (dance, yoga, martial arts, theatre, alternative therapies etc...) as well as performances. She died in 2010, at the age of 97, and is buried in the First Cemetery.

Theatre

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1937–1940: Marika Kotopouli Company

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  • Angelos Terzakis Gamilio emvatirio (Wedding March)
  • Alfred Gehri 6th floor
  • Arnaud d'Usseau - Gau Deep are the roots
  • George Bernard Shaw Mrs Warren's profession
  • Dimitris Bogris Kainourgia zoi (New Life)
  • Dimitris Bogris Everything will change ... Mrs Asprodonti
  • Andre Aube Don Juan
  • Pandelis Horn Meltemaki (Light breeze)
  • Sophokles Electra ... chorus leader

1940–1942: Katerina Andreadi Company

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  • Yalamas - Oekonomidis - Thisvios War quadrilles
  • Hayermann Good faith
  • S. Bekefy Come on the first of the month

1942–1944: Art Theatre

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1944: Katerina Andreadi Company

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1946: United Artists Troupe

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  • Theodora
  • If you work, you'll eat

1949–50: Vasso Manolidou - Y. Pappas Company

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1952–1960: Vassilis Logothetidis Company

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1960–1962: Dimitris Horn Company

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1962–63

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In the summer of 1962 she took part in the musical play by Bost - Mikis Theodorakis Omorfi poli (Beautiful City) (Park Theatre) In the winter of 1962–63 she appeared again with Dimitris Horn in the plays

Immediately after, with the Lambros Konstandaras Company in the plays

1964–67: Various troupes

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  • 1964–65 Neil Simon Barefoot in the Park (Elli Lambeti Company)
  • 1964–65 Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire (Elli Lambeti Company)
  • 1965 Pretenderis - Yalamas Mias pendaras niata (Threepenny Youth) (during the summer season at the Minoa Theatre, and in the winter season at the Amiral Theatre)... Marika
  • 1966 Yalamas - Pretenderis I komissa tis fabrikas (The Countess of the Factory) (Kondou - Linaios - Rizos - Stefanidou Company)
  • 1967 Dimitris Psathas Achortagos (The Insatiable) (Yannis Gionakis - Christina Silva - Yannis Michalopoulos - Smaro Stefanidou company) at the Alhambra Theatre
  • 1967 Yorgos Roussos Exi fores tin evdomada (Six times per week) (in the summer, with the same company, at the Bournelli Theatre)

1967–1984

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A small selection of her many theatrical appearances

Films

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Year Film Transliteration Role
1951 The Four Steps Τα τέσσερα σκαλοπάτια
Ta tessera skalopatia
Loukia Asprokotsyfa
1952 The Tower of Knights Ο πύργος των ιπποτών
O pyrgos ton ippoton
Orsa Delarossa
1953 Santa Chiquita Σάντα Τσικίτα Mrs. Delacovia
1954 Despoinis eton 39 Δεσποινίς ετών 39
Despinis eton 39
Chrysanthi Karantari
1956 The Lovers Arrive Ο ζηλιαρόγατος
O ziliarogatos
Mina Moutsopoulou
1957 The lover of all women Ο γυναικάς
O ghinaikas
Korina Frabala-Zouboulou
1960 Three dolls and myself! Τρεις κούκλες κι εγώ!
Treis koukles ki ego
Chrysa
1960 Madalena Μανταλένα Pipitsa
1961 Woe to the Young Αλλοίμονο στους νέους
Allimono stous neous
Eleni
... Voyage Ταξίδι
Taxidi
Loula
... The lover is coming Ο εραστής έρχεται
O erastis erchetai
... Lucky for me I've gone mad Ευτυχώς τρελλάθηκα
Evtyhos trellathika
1964 My Greek Wedding Γάμος αλά Ελληνικά
Gamos ala Ellinika
Petros' mother
1964 Aristeidis and his Ladies Ο Αριστείδης και τα κορίτσια του
O Aristidis ke ta koritsia tou
Evdokia Delaporta
1967 Mia pendaras niata Μιας πεντάρας νιάτα Marika Konstandinou
1968 The madman is the sanest of all Ο τρελός τα 'χει 400 Sultana
1973 20 Ladies and I 20 γυναίκες κι εγώ
20 yinekes ki ego
Smaro Filippou

Television

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Theatrical plays on television

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  • Dimitris Psathas: "The coward and the brave" (1977) ..... Edim Bilingli
  • Dimitris Psathas: "Dumb and dumber" (1986) ..... Theodora
  • "Never lose faith"

etc.

Television series

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Radio

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She took part, for a great number of years, in many theatrical and literary radio shows, as well as in radio serials such as:

  • "The tongue that embroiders" and
  • "Baroness Staff".

She read, in installments, the novels:

References

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  1. ^ ""Έφυγε" η ηθοποιός Σμάρω Στεφανίδου". 7 November 2010.
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