Who was the Greek actress and politician, the former Minister of Culture and the winner of many international awards? The Albanian film historian, Abaz Hoxha, finds that Melina Mercouri was originally from the village of Pilur.
He is one of the most famous Greek artists, but not only. And maybe there are not many who know the Albanian origin of Melina Mercouri. Greek actress, sontstress and politician, Melina Mercouri was born on 18 October 1920 as Maria Amalia Mercouri. As an actress, she made her first debut in "Stella" (1955) and then her performance in the internationally successful film "Never on Sunday" and further on "Phaedra", "Topkapi" and "Promise at Dawn", she won the Best Actress Award in the 1960 at the Cannes Film Festival and also is nominated for Oscar, Tony Award, three Golden Globe and two Bafta prizes.A political activist during 1967-1974, Mercouri became a member of the Greek Parliament in 1977 and the first Greek female culture minister in 1981. Melina Mercouri was the person who in 1983 conceived and proposed the European Capital of Culture program, which was then implemented by the European Union since 1985.
The Origin of Mercury by Piluri ?! According to the cinema historian, Abaz Hoxha, Melina Mercury is originally from the village of Pilur. Hoxha wrote earlier about the Albanian origin of Mercury, being perhaps the first and the only one who speaks publicly about her real origin. He mentions her the book entitled "The Albanians in the World Cinematography", including Melina Mercuuri. But now, he also points out some new details, not included in this publication.
"Her father has left Albania and has migrated to France, where he has opened a restaurant and later returned to Greece, where he was involved in politics and was elected mayor of the city of Athens", says Abaz Hoxha. According to him, Mercouri had a special affection for the Albanian actor John Belushi, Jim's brother, and when he performed, he often went after and embraced him."
"Mercouri came to Albania as a minister of Greek Culture and stated herself that he is of Albanian origin, and even according to my data, she has also gone to Pilur has met with a father's cousin and when he spoke for her father, calling her not Melina but Angjelina, she has been 'enamored' and embraced him," says Hoxha, while he notes that the Mercouri tribe is one of the most famous Albanian tribes in Greece.
We remind here that he has wrote a book entitled "I was born Greek, implying thus that her descendants were not Greek.