Olympia Dukakis Teaches and Lectures at ACG

Oscar-winning actress Olympia Dukakis dazzled students, faculty and alumni of The American College of Greece with a weeklong series of campus appearances that included acting master classes and a moving lecture on her experiences as a woman and a Greek-American.

Dukakis’ presence on the ACG campus was part of the celebrations of the College’s 135th  anniversary. 

Her lecture, “A Woman’s Story: a conversation with Olympia Dukakis,” was delivered on January 19 to a rapt audience of over 350 people at ACG’s John S. Bailey Library. In the audience were College alumni, actors, directors, and film and theater critics, who came to hear and admire one of the most accomplished actors of her generation.

Sometimes with humor and at other times in a voice trembling with emotion, Dukakis spoke of her experiences as the child of Greek immigrants growing up in multiethnic Lowell, Massachusetts, as well as of her experiences as a woman and mother living and working in a male-dominated society.

Dukakis answered at length the many questions that followed her talk.

Dukakis, who received an Oscar for her role in the 1986 film Moonstruck, was introduced by fellow actor and Greek parliamentarian Yiannis Vouros, who extolled her contribution to the theater and the film industry.

In his opening remarks, President David G. Horner of The American College of Greece said that Dukakis’ “personal story as a woman of extraordinary achievement not only glitters with celebrity but also reveals Olympia Dukakis as a person of principle and passion committed, as were [The American College of Greece’s] founders, to making a difference in the world.”

DEREE’s Theater Arts program benefited greatly from the presence of Dukakis on campus. Drama students attended two master classes conducted by the veteran actress on January 20 and 21 at the College’s black box theater, one of three theater facilities on ACG’s 64-acre campus.

Dukakis held a second master class exclusively for alumni pursuing careers as actors.