Rena Vlahopoulou
| Rena Vlahopoulou | |
|---|---|
| Native name | Ειρήνη Βλαχοπούλου |
| Born |
Irene Vlahopoulou 20 February 1923 Corfu, Greece |
| Died |
29 July 2004 (aged 81) Athens, Greece |
| Occupation | Actress, singer |
| Spouse(s) |
Costas Vasileiou (1939–1943) Yiannis Costopoulos (1943–1946) Yiorgos Lafazanis (1967-2004; her death) |
Irene Vlahopoulou (Ειρήνη Βλαχοπούλου; 20 February 1923 – 29 July 2004), known as Rena Vlahopoulou, was a Greek actress and singer. She starred in theatre, musical, and Greek cinema productions, including The Gambler and The Countess of Corfu.[1]
Vlahopoulou was born on the island of Corfu, the fifth of nine children. She first began playing the piano, taught by her father, Giannis Vlahopoulos. When she turned ten, she began singing at a local bakery; she was a talented dancer and actress and a qualified mezzo-soprano. Over the course of her fifty-five-year career she appeared in 105 theatrical plays between 1939 and 1994, and twenty-six films between 1951-85.
In 1939, Vlahopoulou and AEK footballer Kostas Vasileiou eloped to Athens and were married. She began singing at the Oasis varieté show in the Zappeion gardens, where Mimis Traiforos presented his new work. In the winter of 1930-40, she sang at the World Theatre of Kostas Makedos on Panepistimiou Street.
The marriage with Vasileiou ended . In 1942 she married her second husband, a banker, Giannis Kostopoulos; the couple divorced in 1946. She married her third and final husband, Giorgos Lafazanis, on September 18, 1967. They remained wed until her death in 2004. Vlahopoulou had no children by any of her marriages. She left Finos Film in 1966 and moved to Karagiannis-Karatzopoulos. From 1972, she continued to star in films for the next seven years. In 1992-93, she starred in the musical comedy Gia Tin Ellada Re Gamo To (Για την Ελλάδα ρε γαμώ το), after which she retired.
Filmography
- 1951: Anatolitikes nyhtes (Ανατολίτικες νύχτες; Oriental Nights)
- 1956: The girl from Corfu (Πρωτευουσιάνικες περιπέτειες; Capital adventures) ..... Rinoula
- 1962: Otan leipei i gata (Όταν λείπει η γάτα; When the cat's away) ..... Marigo
- 1962: Merikoi to protimoun kryo (Μερικοί το προτιμούν κρύο; Some like it Cold) ..... Rena Angelou
- 1963: Ena koritsi gia dyo (Ένα κορίτσι για δύο; One Girl for Two) ..... Polyxeni
- 1963: Kati na kaiei (Κάτι να καίει; Something Is Burning) ..... Sofia Frantzi
- 1964: I hartopehtra (Η Χαρτοπαίκτρα; The Gambler) ..... Aleka Oikonomidou
- 1964: Koritsia gia filima (Κορίτσια για φίλημα; Girls Fit for Kissing) ..... Rena Eleftheriou
- 1965: Fonazi o kleftis (Φωνάζει ο κλέφτης; The Thief Is Screaming) ..... Lia Karaleontos
- 1966: I vouleftina (Βουλευτίνα; Lady MP) ..... Rena Varlamou
- 1967: Viva Rena (Βίβα Ρένα; Viva Rena) ..... Rena Papaliou / Pepita di Corfu
- 1970: Mia treli sarantara (Μια τρελή σαραντάρα; A Crazy 40-year-old) ..... Jenny Petromihali
- 1968: I ziliara (Ζηλιάρα; Jealous) ..... Rena Pantelia
- 1969: I Pariziana (Παριζιάνα; Parisienne) ..... Pelagia Karaboubouna
- 1970: I theia mou i hipissa (Η θεία μου η χίπισσα; My hippie aunt ) ..... Leni
- 1970: Mia Ellinida sto haremi (Ελληνίδα στο χαρέμι; A Greek woman in the harem) ..... Rena
- 1971: Ziteitai epeigontos gambros (Ζητείται επειγόντως γαμπρός; Bridegroom sought urgently) ..... Rena
- 1972: I komissa tis Kerkyras (Η κόμησσα της Κέρκυρας The Countess of Corfu) ..... Siora Antzolina
- 1972: I Rena einai offside (Η Ρένα είναι οφσάιντ; Rena Is Offside) ..... Rena Kaplani
- 1979: Oi fantarines (Φανταρίνες; Women soldiers) ..... Captain Evgenia Vrahou
- 1980: Rena na i efkairia (Ρένα να η ευκαιρία; Rena, this is your chance) ..... Rena Apostolou
- 1981: Tis politsmanas to kangelo (Της πολιτσμάνας το κάγκελο; Crazy policewoman) ..... Rena
- 1982: I manoula, to manouli ki o paidaros (Η μανούλα, το μανούλι κι ο παίδαρος, Momma, chick and hunk) ..... Rena
- 1983: I sidira kyria (Η σιδηρά κυρία; Iron Lady) ..... Rena Remoundou
- 1985: Rena ta resta sou (Ρένα τα ρέστα σου; Rena, your Change) ..... Rena Verygiou