Koniordou, Lydia: - Lydia Koniordou was born in Athens, studied English literature at the Athens University, and graduated from the National Theatre Drama School, in combination with parallel studies in music and dance. As an actress, she has interpreted major roles, both classical and contemporary, in Greece and abroad, collaborating with the National Theatre, the Karolos Koun Art Theatre, the Municipal Theatres of Larissa, Volos, Patras, as well as with the Chatelet Theater in Paris, Teatro Piccolo in Milan and many other. She has worked with eminent theatre directors such as Karolos Koun, Alexis Minotis, Kostas Tsianos, Lefteris Voyatzis, Sotiris Chatzakis, Robert Wilson, Alexander Vassiliev, Yannis Kokkos and others. As a director, besides contemporary plays, she staged many ancient Greek tragedies, for the National Theatre, the Municipal Theatres of Larissa and Volos, the Athens Conservatory and for the Getty Museum in California. For her work and overall contribution in this field, she has been awarded the Karolos Koun and the Critics Awards. She has served as artistic director of the Municipal Theatres of Volos and Patras. Koniordou served as the Minister of Culture and Sports of the Hellenic Republic from November 5, 2016 to August 29, 2018.