Merkouri Melina

Melina Mercouri (Greek: Μελίνα Μερκούρη, born Maria Amalia Mercouri, Greek: Μαρία Αμαλία Μερκούρη) (Athens, Greece, October 18, 1920 – New York City, March 6, 1994) was an Academy Award-nominated Greek actress, singer, and political activist. She was a member of the Hellenic Parliament, and in 1981 she became the first female Minister for Culture in Greece.
Early life
The most important person in her early life was her grandfather Spyros Merkouris, who was mayor of Athens for many decades. Her father was a member of Parliament. The marriage of her parents ended when she was a youngster and she lived with her mother. Her uncle was George S. Mercouris, the leader of the Greek National Socialist Party who became Chairman of the Bank of Greece during the Axis Occupation of Greece during WWII (1941-1944). Her first lover was actor George Papas, but she married Panagis Harokopos, a wealthy landowner. They married during the Second World War and her husband's wealth helped them survive the harsh times of Nazi occupation.