Greek actress and singer Irene Papas dies aged 96

FILE PHOTO: Greek actress Irene Papas (L) arrives with Portuguese director Manoel de Oliveira (R) for the screening of his film, "Inquietude", at the 51st Cannes Film Festival May 19./File Photo

Greek actress and singer Irene Papas, who gained international recognition starring in classic 1960s films such as "Zorba the Greek" and "The Guns of Navarone", has died at the age of 96, Greece's culture ministry said on Wednesday.

Papas enjoyed a 50-year film career capped by John Madden's "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" in 2001 alongside Hollywood stars Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz, and Manoel de Oliveira's "A Talking Picture" in 2003, her final performance alongside Catherine Deneuve and John Malkovich.