What is the best thing that I love about my work?

The transformation. The power to “borrow” someone else’s life for a while. Someone’s who is borrowing your body. And the team that becomes a family for a while and gets so much connected in such a short time. And this “short time” leaves its mark forever. And the reaction of the public, who loves or hates this “other person” that borrows your body. And yourself that adores and defend this “other person”. Because this “other person” looks a lot like you.

What is my idea of happiness?

A life in which when you fall asleep at night you smile and feel lucky. A life full of creation and love.

What is my greatest fear?

Loneliness and stagnation. Not moving forward, staying still, not conquering new goals and new peaks.

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?

The fact that I often see things in a childish way. with too much innocence that often leads me to big disappointments.

Which living persons in my profession do i most admire?

It’s a really hard question as I very often admire younger very talented actors on cinema or theater. But when we speak about general and timeless admiration I would say Meryl Streep, Jack Nickolson and Julia Roberts

What is my greatest extravagance?

Too much emotion. It is very difficult for me to put a brake on it using a logical precedure, as a result of which I often feel anxious and insecure.

On what occasion would I lie?

In order not to hurt someone’s feelings.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?

Insecurity and separations.

When and where was I the happiest, in my work?

The first time that I played professionally which coincided with the first time I played at the ancient Theater of Epidaurus. It was a huge gift and I was the happiest actress in the world. I think that “first times” always have an undeniable force in a person’s memory.

If I could, what would I change about myself?

The stress that overwhelms me sometimes.

What is my greatest achievement in work?

The fact that I manage to play equally in two languages – both in Greek and in French. And while French is not my native tongue, today, after hard work and experience, I feel as confident as in Greek on stage. I think that cultivating all by yourself a second “native language” when you are all grown up is a really important achievement. Another achievement that I am proud of is the realization of my personal projects such as Samothraki Festival, the first winter festival in Northern Greece, co-created with Eleni Apostolopoulou and theater projects original and experimental, or Lunch Break in October 2022 at Espace-des-Arts, Scène Nationale Chalon-sur-Saône.

Where would I most like to live?

I do not know – maybe in a magical city that will combine Athens with Paris,

What is my most treasured possession?

I can’t use the word possessions when talking about treasures.

What is my most marked characteristic?

The smile and the assertiveness.

What is my most inspirational location, in my city?

I have a very special connection with moving water and plane trees so I should say La Seine in Paris and Exarcheia in Athens, where plane trees manage to survive despite the -hostile but nevertheless vivid – city environment.

What is my favorite place to eat and drink, in my city?

In Paris, “Ecir” in the 14th district and in Athens “Kokkini Svoura” in Chalandri and “Tartu” in Exarcheia.

What books influenced my life and how?

“Otan o ilios…” (When the Sun…)of George Sarri. It’s a book that addresses mostly to teenagers, with a teenage heroine during the World War Two. This heroine, Zoe, was also my first first-role in theater and for this same project I made my first theatrical adaptation. So it has influenced my personal and professional life in a lot of different ways.

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day?

Too afraid of death to answer this question.

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?

Zoe, the main character of “When the sun” for which I spoke above. It is not exactly fictional since the novel is autobiographical, but it does not cease to be a book heroine.

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?

My mother, for me was and always is the one who knows and can do everything.

Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime?

The answer to this question may not be definite, but lately I have seen and loved the movie “A plein temps”. I loved the way the director Eric Gravel places a magnifying glass into the life of an ordinary woman, the way that her life becomes an artistic object and every success or disappointment becomes a personal matter for the audience. And I should definitely also refer to the excellent acting of Laure Calamy.

What role do stories play in my life and work?

A great role, a realy big one. I get inspired by everyday life and imagine stories based on them, fairy tales for adults in which I then believe.

What do the words ‘You are the storyteller of your own life’ to me?

Everything is about choices. We often find ourselves at crossroads and the direction we choose outlines the path we follow. A course without dependencies and completely personal.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?

Oh that’s a tricky one. I would only refer to them by their names without explanations: Julie, Kostas, Ilias, for different reasons and in different ways.

Which people or companies would I like to work with in 2022?

Ariane Mnouchkine, Céline Sciamma, François Ozon, Fanny Herrero. Eric Gravel, Audrey Diwan

What project, in 2022, am I looking forward to work on?

As we are already in the middle of 2022, I would like to place one project that I am looking forward to and one wish: I am looking forward to the second edition of Samothraki Festival -where I am one of the the artistic directors along with Eleni Apostolopoulou. We aim to make it grow in order to become a central spot in greek cultural reality. But I also wish for my first role in cinema!!

Where can you see me or my work in 2022?

In a greek series of the National Greek Chanel ERT1, called “The oath” directed by Spiros Michalopoulos. It’s a medical series where I play the role of Maro, a nurse in the “Iasis hospital”. And for greek speaking book lovers on the bookvoice platform on this very link

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?

Passion never retires.. I think its the way that one finds the force to begin again and again, to overcome obstacles and difficulties, to encourage himself and get excited about things he loves, as much as he was the first time. I think it is the main characteristic of an artist’s life.

How can you contact me?

Personal message on my fb page “Venia Stamatiadi” or mail in venia.st@gmail.com

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