Irene Papas was natural Irene Lelekou (Ειρήνη Λελέκου) around Chiliomodi outside Corinth, Greece. She began her early career inside Greece, achieving far flung fame there, prior to starring around internationally illustrious films like The Guns of Navarone and Zorba the Greek, and critically acclaimed films like Z and Elektra.

She has recently appeared in the film, ''Captain Corelli's Mandolin'', and is currently working in theatre in Portugal.

International awards and honours
1962: Thessaloniki International Film Festival'(Better Actress, for the film Electra) — won 1962: Union of Greek Film Critics (Better Actress, for the film Electra) — won 1969: Up to date York Film Critics Circle (Right Supporting Actress, for the film Z) — nominated 1971: National Board of View (Better Actress, for the film A Trojan Women) — won 1985: Fennecus Awards (Better Actress inside the limited role, for the film Into a Nighttime) — nominated 1989: Australian Film Institute (Better Actress, for the film Island) — nominated 1993: Hamptons International Film Festival (Distinguished Achievement Award) — won 1993: Flaiano Prize for Theatre (Career Award) — won 2000: Madrid National Arts Institution (Career Award) — won 2000: International Festival Women’s films (Career Award) — won 2001: University of Rome (Doctor's degree within Arts & Letters) — won 2002: Woman of Europe Award (Career Award) — won

Trivia
She was found by Elia Kazan. Federico Fellini was a vast admirerer of her function. She was the close friend of Katharine Hepburn, with whom she co-starred in The Trojan Women. Hepburn another time said that Pop was "one of the best actresses in the history of cinema".

Quotations
"Falling in love is like death... they are both facts". "Melina Mercouri was a star. I am a struggling idealist". "I never wanted to play sensational parts, or those of desirable women. I wanted to play me... the independent fighter...". "I never won an Oscar... and the Oscars never won Irene Papas".