Tourism Minister Welcomes Daniel Day-Lewis In Athens

GNTO Vice President Christopher Kaparounakis, Hellenic Spastic Society President Daphne Economou, Oscar-winning British-Irish actor Daniel Day-Lewis and Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, during the actor’s visit to the New Acropolic Museum yesterday, Tuesday, 22 January, in Athens.

“The arrival of Daniel Day-Lewis is a strong message that Athens is one of the most important and safest tourism destinations in the world,” Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni said in regards to the visit of the Oscar-winning British-Irish actor in Athens.

Daniel Day-Lewis arrived in Athens yesterday, Tuesday, 22 January, to attend the Greek premiere of his new film “Lincoln.”

Prior to the premiere, the tourism minister accompanied Mr. Day-Lewis on a tour of the New Acropolis Museum.

“He not only expressed his admiration for the New Acropolis Museum, but also his desire to contribute to our effort for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece,” the tourism minister told the Greek press.

The actor afterwards attended a lunch, hosted by the tourism minister, at a nearby restaurant and sampled Greek gastronomy.

The ” Lincoln” movie poster.

Mrs. Kefalogianni underlined that it is important that such personalities come to Greece.

“Daniel Day Lewis said he is a friend of Greece and this is of particular importance for our country,” she said.

Later in the evening, the tourism minister attended the “Lincoln” premiere with Mr. Day-Lewis at the Pallas theater.

The British-Irish actor was invited to Athens by the Hellenic Spastic Society. All proceeds of the premiere were donated to a charity of the society he supports.

According to the tourism minister, besides his homeland Ireland, Greece was the only European country in which Mr. Day-Lewis attended the premiere of his new film.

“Lincoln” is a 2012 American historical drama film directed and produced by Steven Spielberg, starring Daniel Day-Lewis as United States President Abraham Lincoln and Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln.