34 Years Without Jenny Karezi: The Most Expressive Eyes of Greek Cinema Dim Forever

Jenny Karezi, born Eugenia Karpouzi, remains a luminous figure in Greek culture, remembered 34 years after her death on July 26, 1992. Her expressive eyes and radiant presence transcended the limitations of black-and-white cinema, leaving an indelible mark on the industry.

Karezi was a multifaceted performer, captivating audiences across various genres. Her range was remarkable, effortlessly shifting between characters like Lila Vasileiou in "Despina Director" and Mika in "A Crazy Crazy Family," to Eleni in "Red Lanterns" and Anna Koletti in "A Woman in the Resistance."

In theater, her deeply layered performance in "The Great Circus" alongside her husband Kostas Kazakos is considered a masterclass. She began as an innocent child figure and evolved into a powerful presence, moving the audience with her rendition of the play's title song and later, a rendition of "The Uprooted" with Nikos Xylouris.

Her path to stardom was not without its challenges. Her father, a strict headmaster, only consented to her studying at the National Theater's Drama School after a nine-day hunger strike by the 19-year-old Eugenia. This initial conflict strained their relationship, further complicated by her father's support for dictator Ioannis Metaxas, while Karezi herself became a member of the Communist Party and was arrested by the junta, as was her husband.

Karezi entered the Drama School in 1954 and graduated as Jenny Karezi, a name given by her first love and teacher, Angelos Terzakis. She debuted on stage with Melina Mercouri in "Helen of Troy" and later starred opposite Katina Paxinou in "The House of Bernarda Alba." By 1960, she led her own theater troupes and achieved acclaim in ancient drama, staging "Medea" in Epidaurus and Herodion. Her film debut was in "Lanterne, Poverty and Honor" in 1955, playing the lead role. Before marrying Kostas Kazakos in 1968, she was briefly married to Zachos Hatzifotiou from 1962 to 1964, but remained with Kazakos until her death.