Greek actor Alexis Georgoulis has officially become the face of Greece in international productions, quickly gaining worldwide notoriety in English-language projects premiering way beyond Greece’s shores.
Georgoulis became an instant star in Greece by being cast as the lead in the classic-hit Greek TV series “Eisai to tairi mou,” and since then he has probably become the most recognizable actor in the country. But ever since he launched his career abroad with Tom Hanks’ US-produced “My Life in Ruins”, he has earned several roles in high-profile film and television outside of Greece. Georgoulis also achieved great success in Germany starring in the German movie “Ein Sommer in Griechenland,” while most recently he portrays a key character in the widely-watched UK Series “The Durrells.”
The critically acclaimed series, set and filmed on Corfu, focuses on a British family’s adjustment to their temporary life on the island in the 1930s. Alexis Georgoulis plays Spiros Hakaiopoulos, a cab driver and kind of Mr. Fix-It in the area who helps the Durrells settle in and becomes a close friend and companion to the family; especially to matriarch Louisa.
Sally Woodward Gentle, who produces “The Durrells in Corfu”, recently told “RadioTimes” that filming on the Greek island was a strange experience for the cast, as Alexis was far more recognized than the rest in the eyes of locals: “He’s a massive star in Greece. He’s huge, it’s just like, he can’t go anywhere. He’s a huge star.”
So far, “The Durrells” has been a massive critical and commercial hit in the UK, with the second season already well underway. The show averages 5.9 million viewers on a Sunday night, nearly 2 million more than ITV’s average audience.
It appears Alexis has settled into his role quite nicely as well, as he told Digital Spy: “We all created a very nice bond, and we’re still all in contact. Bottom line – my impression of the British way of working was amazing. I really want to continue working in Britain.”
“The Durrells” airs every Sunday night on ITV.
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