Greek actor Nikos Verlekis has spoken about his seven-year relationship with late actress Irene Papas, revealing that he virtually abandoned his acting career during their time together because her professional schedule took precedence.
Speaking in an interview with Hello! magazine, Verlekis explained that he worked only three or four times over the course of their seven-year romance. He said he chose to stop working in order to accompany Papas, who held far more significant and prestigious roles internationally at the time.
Papas, one of Greece's most celebrated theatrical and film actresses, built a career spanning several decades and gained global fame through major cinematic productions before her death in September 2022 at the age of 96. Verlekis, an established performer in Greek television and theatre, met Papas during the height of her career.
Career priorities and fame disparity
Reflecting on their dynamic, Verlekis stated that he never found it difficult to date a woman with an international profile. He noted that the difference in their fame and professional trajectories never posed a problem or created friction for him during their years together.
Verlekis recalled that when he first met Papas, he simply liked her, and the two began meeting regularly before eventually deciding to enter a relationship. He explained that he did not check her identification to ascertain her age, nor did he concern himself with her past work achievements or whether she was regarded as superior or inferior to him in the industry.
He added that when a person feels an initial attraction to someone, they do not conduct an investigation into their background right away. Instead, he said, people get to know their partner gradually over the course of the relationship.
Relationship dynamics and independence
Addressing whether there was any element of control or dominance in their relationship, Verlekis rejected the idea that Papas ever attempted to exert authority over him. He emphasized that he never felt dominated during their time together.
Verlekis described Papas as having a commanding personality, adding that her presence was all that mattered to him. He also noted that he himself has never been an easy person for anyone to dominate or control.
