Biography

Aleka (Alexandra) Katseli, née Mazaraki (Greek: Αλέκα Κατσέλη, Athens, October 19, 1917 - September 11, 1994), was a great Greek dramatic actress and a qualified dance artist. She first appeared on the stage at the "Karolos Koun" Art Theater in 1942, during the Occupation. After liberation, and after a series of successes, she was hired in 1945 at the National Theater, where she made her first appearance as Portia in William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" under the instruction of her later husband, director Pelos Katseli. Two years later, upon leaving the National Theater, she appeared as the leading actress of the dramatic stage in various dramatic works by other companies. In 1950, she was rehired at the National Theatre, appearing in key roles in George Bernard Shaw's "Saint Joan" and Dionysios Roma's "Three Worlds". At the same time, she starred in the film "Lycaena" and took part in the dance dramas "Marsyas" and "Forms of a Woman" of the Greek Dance Drama by Manos Hadjidakis (1949), continuing a rich theatrical career culminating in 1986, where she starred in the play "The House of Bernarda Alba" by Federico Garcia Lorca. Her participation in Greek cinema, television and radio was notable.