Actress Betty Valasi passed away on Thursday (Oct. 15).
Her funeral will take place on Monday, October 19, at 11:30 a.m. at the First Cemetery, and will be a civil ceremony, as announced by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE).
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
In recent years, she had been living at the “House of the Fighter.”
Betty Valasi was born in 1937 in Thessaloniki to parents who were refugees from Asia Minor.
In 1984, she married the well-known actor Titos Vandis, and they remained together until his death in 2003.
She trained in theater under the guidance of great mentors. In 1961, she made her stage debut at the Kalouta Theater, alongside Karolos Koun and Mary Aroni. She appeared in at least 14 Greek feature films directed by acclaimed filmmakers.
She became widely known and popular with the public through her leading role in the successful —and last black-and-white—television series *Loxandra*, which aired on ERT in 1980.
The KKE’s Statement
In a statement on the passing of the great actress Betty Valasi, the Press Office of the Central Committee of the KKE states the following:
“The KKE bids a moving farewell, with deep appreciation, to the great actress Betty Valasi, a true grande dame of Greek theater, film, and television, a person of exceptional character, refinement, dynamism, and a fighting spirit.
From Thessaloniki, where she was born in 1937 into a family of refugees from Asia Minor, she carried with her the stories and experiences of a generation that had known uprooting and fought for its life and dignity. From her childhood onward, she began to envision her future, intertwined with art and theater. She dreamed of becoming an actress and pursued her dream with perseverance and determination.
She studied under great mentors and collaborated with prominent directors and actors in both theater and film. She managed to forge a unique artistic career. For Betty Valasi, theater and life were one and the same. She “played” her roles with ease and naturalness, both on stage and in everyday life. She was theatrical in life and human in the theater.
Betty Valasi was one of the great ladies of classic Greek theater. On television, she was beloved by generations of viewers through her iconic role as Loxandra in the ERT series of the same name. These two women became one and the same in the public consciousness. The public’s love for Loxandra is inextricably linked to Betty Valasi’s portrayal of the character.
Her meeting with Titos Vandis, following different personal and artistic paths, proved to be a defining moment in her life. A great love that quickly blossomed into a deep, lifelong partnership and a shared journey through life. Two great actors, two extraordinary people, with a strong social conscience and a love for the theater. Her close friendship with Melina Merkouri held a special place in her life.
Betty Valasi was an exuberant and multifaceted woman. In her full-faced features, one could discern both sensitivity and dynamism. A broad, constant smile and a sharp gaze that perceived and judged everything. She possessed the self-assurance of someone who knew her own worth, without needing to flaunt it. She had the generosity to give, the strength to persevere, and the courage to say “no” when something didn’t resonate with her.
This authentic relationship she had with people and life naturally aligned with her social and activist stance. She participated in the activities of the Greek Actors’ Union and supported the activist initiatives of theater professionals and cultural workers with love and care.
Betty Valasi’s relationship with the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) was steadfast and enduring. She spoke of her Party with confidence, faith, and love. Through her presence, her art, and her words, she supported the Party’s political and cultural activities during both its greatest moments and its most difficult times, such as the period of crisis and reconstruction. She was a candidate for parliament with the KKE and an elected city councilor for the Municipality of Athens. For the past 4.5 years, she resided at the “House of the Activist,” remaining intellectually and socially active, keeping her interest in art and social life alive.
Betty Valasi leaves behind a great legacy in the world of art and culture. She leaves behind the memory of a creative, dynamic, and uncompromising woman. She also leaves the example of an artist who proved that art cannot be separated from life. We will remember her just as she was: radiant and tender, insatiable in her thirst for life and knowledge, a great actress and activist.
To her son Nikola, her grandson Titos, and all her loved ones, to her colleagues, and to all those who knew her, loved her, and walked alongside her, the KKE extends its heartfelt condolences.
Her funeral will take place on Monday, October 19, at 11:30 a.m. at the First Cemetery, and it will be a political funeral.”
Source: CNN.GR
