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Betty Valassi

Betty Valassi

Acting

Biography

Betty Valassi was born in Thessaloniki to parents who were refugees from Asia Minor. Her real name is Despo, but her mother changed it to 'Betty'. She studied theatre under great teachers, such as Hourmouzios, Katina Paxinou, Terzakis and Socrates Karantinos. From 1960 to 2004 she acted in at least 14 Greek feature films by renowned directors. She became widely known and popular with the public through her starring role in the successful – and last black and white – television series Loxandra, which was broadcast by ERT in the period 1980-1981. She played the eponymous role, which according to critics was the best of her career. She was married twice and had a son, Nikolas-Haris Minissali, who studied directing abroad. Her second husband was the well-known actor Titos Vandis, whom she married in 1984 and remained together until his death in 2003. She was closely friends with Melina Mercouri, with whom she acted in theater and film. [Source: Wikipedia]

Known For

Loxandra
6.5

Loxandra is a Greek mother and wife living the ordinary life of a well to-do Greek family in Constantinoupolis of the late 1800s-early 1900s, a world gone forever. Historical events intrude in the background -revolutions, palace coups, massacres, and the great upheavals of WW1 in which Greeks saw their wildest hopes fulfilled, then dashed: for a brief time Constantinoupolis itself was regained, then lost along with all Asia Minor. Through troubles great and small, Loxandra's simple optimism, belief in her Virgin Mary, and love of life carries her family past every difficulty - be it a sumptuous dinner for Easter or secretly giving away her savings to help persecuted Armenians. A representation of a time and place where all neighbors were friends, where they could cook in each other's kitchens or take shelter in each other's cellars.

Loxandra

1980Series