Early Life
Maria Amalia Mercouri was born in Athens, Greece in 1920, the daughter of Stamatis Mercouris, a former cavalry officer, member of Parliament for the Democratic Socialist Party of Greece and former Minister for Public Order of Greece, and Irene Lappa, originated from a prominent family of Athens. Spyridon Merkouris, her paternal grandfather, was one of the most successful Mayors of Athens and played a major role in her early life. Her uncle, Georgios Merkouris, founded the Greek National Socialist (Nazi) Party.
When she completed her secondary education, she was admitted to the National Theatre's Drama School after reciting a poem by Kostas Karyotakis. Dimitris Rontiris was her teacher and she graduated in 1944.
She married her first husband, wealthy landowner Panos Harokopos, at 21. They divorced in 1962.
Read more about this topic: Melina Mercouri
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