In recent years, Zarokosta had been living at the Athens Nursing Home. She had previously said that she felt comfortable with this decision, as living alone had become difficult for her.

Her niece confirmed the news in a moving Facebook post, describing her aunt as “the only person in the family who truly understood my basic sense of self-worth and openly said she admired me.”

The death was also confirmed by actor and former MP Spyros Bibilas, who described Zarokosta as “a significant actress, a fighter, and an accomplished translator of numerous works.” In a statement, he expressed his deep sorrow, noting that he had learned of her passing from her son, Alexandros Pagoulatos.

Bibilas highlighted her long-standing commitment to the theatrical community, her involvement in actors’ collective struggles, and her lasting contribution through numerous roles in film and television. Those who worked with her in the theatre, he said, experienced firsthand her passion and love for the art. He concluded by thanking her for their close friendship and stated that details regarding the funeral service would be announced in a subsequent post.

Who Was Melpo Zarokosta

Melpo Zarokosta was born in Piraeus in 1933 to Ilias Zarokostas and Despina Spyropoulou. After World War II, she emigrated for a period to Alexandria, Egypt, and later to Sydney, Australia. There, she studied theatre at the Metropolitan Theatre and directing, screenwriting, and acting at the Canadale School of Radio Studies.

She lived in Australia for 11 years and began her artistic career in theatre and television. During that time, she performed Antigone by Jean Anouilh in Sydney and also played Hecuba in Greek for the local Greek community.

In 1957, she married her first husband, pianist Andreas Diamantidis, and moved with him to London, where they lived for one year. Due to family obligations, she returned to Greece in 1958.

Shortly after her return to Athens, she began collaborating with the theatre company of Lambros Konstantaras. During this period, she met her second husband, actor and director Victor Pagoulatos. Together, they had one son, Alexandros.

Zarokosta was also active as a translator and adaptor of works for theatre, radio, and television. She wrote her first play, The Women’s Workshop, in which she also co-starred alongside Dino Iliopoulos, Nora Valsami, and Nikos Apergis. Several of her original works were subsequently staged in Athens and across Greece.

She was the first woman to become a member of the Greek Society of Theatre Playwrights in 1960, later serving on its board of directors from 1990 and as president from 1999 to 2001.