Aliki Vougiouklaki - The National Star
Her difficult childhood was overshadowed by the murder of her father during the German occupation. Her mother, Emilia Koumoundourou,
was then asked to grow up Aliki and her two siblings, Antonis and Takis, alone. From early ages, Aliki’s idols were Mary Pickford and Greta Garbo.In 1952 she began her studies at the Drama School of the National Theater, having previously won the entrance examination, in which she participated without informing her family. In the second year of her studies at the National Theater she made her debut on the stage. Between 1953 and 1954, Aliki Vougiouklaki participates in Moliere’s ‘’The Imaginary Invalid’’, which was performed at the Municipal Theater of Pireaus, having the role of Louiza, the little daughter of Argan – the “imaginary patient”.
In the summer of 1954, σhe was invited by one of the most prominent Greek actors and theatrical directors, Nikos Chatziskos, to replace Anna Synodinou in the “Romeo and Juliet” project and to perform the “Juliet” in the well-known Shakespeare’s tragedy.
In the same year, her first appearance in cinema followed. It was the film “Pontikaki”. Nikos Tsiforos signed the script, along with Giorgos Asimakopoulos. Among the protagonists were Mimis Fotopoulos, Dionysis Papagiannopoulos and Nikos Rizos. Although she had a key role, her name was missing from the original titles of the film.
On August 20 1955, the magazine “Woman” released a cover photo with a brunette young girl without mentioning her name. It was Aliki Vougiouklaki on her first cover, one of the countless covers that will follow.
