ROME (ANA-MPA/Th. Andreadis-Syggelakis) - The Biennale di Venezia (theatre) will award the Leone d'oro (Golden Lion) for her lifetime achievements to Greek actress Irene Papas, a well-known and appreciated European artist. The ceremony will take place on Friday evening inside the Teatro Piccolo Arsenale.

Italian daily "La Reppublica" notes, in an article on Friday, that "all Italians still remember Irene Papas for her performance in Franco Rossi's film 'Ulysses', even if four decades have passed since."

Papas, the muse of Greek filmmaker Michael Cacoyannis, has also worked with Italian film directors like Mauro Bolognini, Fransesco Rossi and Roberto de Simone.

After receiving the award, Papas will perform Euripides's "Medea".

In an interview in the Rome newspaper "Avvenire", Papas said she would also like to direct both on television and in cinema.