Biography

Popi Lazou was born in 1937 in Kalavrita but grew up in Thessaloniki and, at the urging of her sister, studied at the Macedonian Conservatory. She then went to Athens where, as an exceptional talent, she obtained the coveted work permit, taking exams in front of Mary Aroni with the plays “Margarita of Faust” and “Antigone”. In 1959, she first appeared on stage, playing in Jaroslav Hasek’s play “The Good Soldier Švejk” with Mimis Fotopoulos in the title role. Her collaboration with the troupe formed by Georgia Vassiliadou with Vassilis Avlonitis and Nikos Rizos in the early 1960s is considered extremely successful, presenting many works, mainly by Nikos Tsiforos. The same year as her debut in the theater, she also appeared in the cinema, with Stelios Tatasopoulos' film "Lygkos the Lion". A year later, in 1960, she made her debut at Finos Film with which she collaborated in four emblematic films, the first being the legendary "Yellow Gloves" by Alekos Sakellarios. A year later, she played the mischievous prostitute in Nikos Tsiforos' comedy "O Clearchos, Marina and Kontos", which is perhaps the most recognizable role of her career. In total, she participated in 25 films from 1959 to 1984. In the 1970s, she decided to appear on television, where she starred in two episodes of the series "Monday's Theater", while in 1983, the series "Margarita Stefa" was broadcast on ERT2, directed by Costas Prekas, in which Popi Lazou played the wife of Count Richard Tokadellos.