Born in Piraeus, Greece. Formidable tragedienne and character player of the international stage and screen. She graduated a Gold Medalist from the Geneva Conservatoire and started out as an opera singer. She switched to acting in 1929 and shortly after joined the Greek National Theater. When WW II broke out, she was performing in London and, unable to return to Greece, came to the United States, making her Broadway debut in Hedda Gabler in 1942. The following year, she gained international fame and an Oscar® as best supporting actress for her powerful portrayal of Pilar in Hollywood's FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS (1943). She appeared in several other Hollywood productions (HOSTAGES, 1943; CONFIDENTIAL AGENT, 1945, UNCLE SILAS and MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA, both 1947; PRINCE OF FOXES, 1949) but later returned to Athens, where she and her husband, Alexis Minotis, established the Royal Theater of Athens, which became one of the most celebrated in Europe. She also appeared sporadically in European films.  Supporting Actress 1943: FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS 1 nomination, 1 Award