Oscars: Greeks who have walked the red carpet

In 1943, Katina Paxinou was the first Greek to have brought to Greece the golden statuette for her outstanding performance in the film For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Greek-American Elia Kazan (Ilias Kazantzoglou) was nominated five times for Best Director, and he received the award twice (1948, 1954).

Michael Cacoyannis, director from Cyprus received three nominations for his film Zorba the Greek (1964), based on the novel by famous Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis, but lost in all three categories.

On the other hand, Greek director Costa Gavras had more luck, managing to win the Academy Award for Best Writing for his film Missing (1982).

In 2004, Alexander Payne, who made it on this year's Oscars shortlist, won his first Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for his film Sideways, followed in 2011 by a second Academy Award for The Descendants.

Manos Hatzidakis won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for his song "Never on Sunday".

Moreover, Vangelis won the 1981 Academy Award for Best Original Score for the music he compiled in the film Chariots of Fire.

Finally, the one and only Melina Mercouri received a nomination for her performance in Never on Sunday in 1960.