Interview with Zisis Papaioannou齐西斯·帕帕约安努

Poetics Multilingual Mag

Interview with Famous Greek actor and writer Conducted By Giorgos Pratzikos Journalist EVA Petropoulou Lianou Founder Poetry Unites people Youth and Poetry ........ ### Interview with Zisis Papaioannou In collaboration with the literary cultural project **POETRY Unites People** Founder: **Eva Petropoulou Lianou** An exclusive interview for **Eviasmile** by journalist **Giorgos Pratzikos** --- Zisis Papaioannou is an actor and children’s literature author who manages to bridge two worlds: acting and children’s books. He has appeared in theater, television, and cinema, while at the same time, through his books, he conveys knowledge, imagination, and values to children. His participation in the new film *The Carpenter’s Son*, starring alongside Nicolas Cage, as well as his books such as *Vasiliki, the Magical Echo of Epidaurus* and *Aristotle’s Walk*, highlight the breadth and creativity of his career. What follows is a discussion that sheds light both on his artistic side and on the man behind the works. --- **Tell us a few words about your role as a leper healed by Jesus in the new film *The Carpenter’s Son*, where Nicolas Cage also stars. Did this experience strengthen your faith?** I wouldn’t say it strengthened it because I come from beautiful Meteora — I am from Kalabaka — with the most wonderful experiences I have had. My faith in the Church has saved me during this difficult period. I also taught for years and for 15 years I was an altar boy alongside a wonderful monk, Father Chrysostomos, from whom I learned to have the fitting faith and inner peace in daily life. Everyone experiences faith differently. The film *The Carpenter’s Son*, directed by Nathan Lotfy — when I received the proposal from Los Angeles to participate — excited me, especially the idea of acting in a new film about the childhood years of Jesus. My role was the Leper whom Jesus healed, because wherever He passed and touched, He healed people. I knew the story through scripture, but it is even more fascinating to live it through acting. I was among wonderful people with passion and love for cinema. See you in theaters in the coming months. --- **Among your children’s books, *Vasiliki, the Magical Echo of Epidaurus* stands out. What does sound mean to you, and what does Epidaurus mean to you personally?** Yes, indeed *Vasiliki, the Magical Echo of Epidaurus* has traveled widely, has been read a lot, and I am deeply grateful to my readers. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. It has made its journey, and years later it continues to travel. It is my pride. I believed in it, and I was vindicated — I feel proud. The echo is music, sound, journey, feeling, and discovery. For me, as an actor, Epidaurus embodies all these elements. At this point, I would like to thank my publisher, **Michalis Sideris Publications**, for the beautiful journey of my heroine Vasiliki. --- **In your book *Aristotle’s Walk*, you introduce children to the great philosopher. How relevant is Aristotle today, and what have you personally discovered through this “walk”?** This particular book is from **Kaktos Publications**, titled *Aristotle’s Walk*. It has a special feature: you can also listen to it with one click via the QR code on its first page. Aristotle always touched me — his method — and I thought it right to pass it on to children. To your question whether Aristotle is relevant today: I will answer, he is astonishingly relevant in 2025, despite the fact that his works were written thousands of years ago. From ethics and politics to logic and his peripatetic method. I will mention Aristotle’s view of virtue: he said virtue lies somewhere in the middle. Balance is important for our times in 2025. Personally, I discovered balance in all aspects of my life. It helps — it is something like a psychologist. I encourage you to discover Aristotle; he will help you. --- **Where do you draw inspiration for writing your wonderful children’s books?** It depends on what I want to convey to children through my books. I discuss it with my publishers, and that’s how I proceed. It is something that comes naturally — I don’t force it. --- **Which of your children’s books is your favorite, and why?** I don’t have one in particular. All my books are like my children. I treat them as such. They are my creations — I have given them flesh and bones to travel. --- **You have embodied many roles in theater, television, and cinema. Which role do you single out and what did it leave you with?** In the film *Eftychia*, I played the role of the fiancé. We had an amazing cast of actors, and I feel nostalgic about those days under the Acropolis. The director, Mr. Angelos Frantzis, played an important part — a director who masterfully puts you in the atmosphere of the era so you can perform. --- **If you had to choose, what do you prefer more: acting or writing?** Both are parts of my life. These are what I studied, these are what I do. And it is a blessing to do what you love. Life is short. --- **Although I first saw you on television, I got to know you better through my friend and collaborator Eva Petropoulou-Lianou, who suggested I interview you. What is Eva Petropoulou-Lianou to you?** Ah, this woman… for me, personally, she is **WOMAN**. To be more specific, there are women all over the world, but in Greece lives the goddess Eva Lianou Petropoulou. She is the one who supported me in the hardest time of my life. It is important when you have suffered something to have someone for psychological support. Being orphaned and alone, I had Eva, who helped me significantly to move forward and see things with a freer and clearer perspective. --- **Do you believe theater can be an important educational tool for children today?** Of course! That’s why there is Theater Pedagogy and theatrical play for minors and beyond. I have taught for many years in the past, and it was a wonderful journey I will never forget. I hope I can take it up again from where I left it. There are thousands of exercises in rhythm, orientation, communication, self-respect, respecting others, discovering another world and the real one. Exercises that help your inner self and those around you. Very important. --- **How would you like to be remembered by your young readers and audiences?** With a smile. That’s what I would love. --- **What are your next steps, both as an actor and as a writer?** I am currently auditioning for three television commercials in France. In a few days, I expect the results. At the same time, I have started writing a theatrical monologue based on a true story I personally experienced, and I would like to put it on paper — and hopefully bring it to the stage. It deals with the new reality of crime in the center of Athens. Recently, I survived an attack — but it left me with a “why” about a State that does not care for Greek citizens. I consider it a shame that we lack rights while others have them. This is not racist — racism lies within **us**. In my opinion, we must return to being human as we once were. At this point, I would like to make an appeal to the Greek State: please create campaigns for humanity. It is not shameful to call 100 (the police emergency number) if you see someone bleeding in the street. Call 100, indicate the location, and leave — but call. Don’t pass by in fear. It is not shameful to call 100. It is help — because yesterday it was **me**, tomorrow it may be **you**. 对著名希腊演员兼作家齐西斯·帕帕约安努的采访 采访者: 记者乔治斯·普拉齐科斯 伊娃·彼得罗普卢·利亚努（“诗歌团结人民”"青年与诗歌"组织创始人）<div> 为Eviasmile独家呈现 齐西斯·帕帕约安努既是一名演员，也是一位儿童文学作家，他成功地架起了两个世界的桥梁：演艺界和儿童书籍领域。他活跃于戏剧、电视和电影圈，与此同时，通过自己的书籍，向孩子们传递知识、想象力和价值观。他参演了新电影《木匠的儿子》，与尼古拉斯·凯奇联袂主演，此外，他的著作如《瓦西莉基：埃皮达鲁斯的神奇回声》和《亚里士多德的漫步》，也彰显了他职业生涯的广度与创造力。 接下来的这段对话，将既展现他的艺术风采，也让我们了解这些作品背后的那个人。 --- 请和我们聊聊你在新电影《木匠的儿子》中饰演的那个被耶稣治愈的麻风病人角色吧，尼古拉斯·凯奇也参演了这部电影。这次经历是否增强了你的信仰？ 我倒不会说它增强了我的信仰，因为我来自美丽的迈泰奥拉——我是卡拉巴卡人，在那里有着我最美好的经历。在这段艰难的时期，我对教会的信仰拯救了我。我还教过很多年书，有15年的时间，我担任祭坛侍童，身边有一位非常棒的修道士——赫里索斯托莫斯神父，从他那里，我学会了在日常生活中拥有恰当的信仰和内心的平静。每个人对信仰的体验都是不同的。 这部《木匠的儿子》由内森·洛夫蒂执导——当我收到来自洛杉矶的参演邀请时，我非常激动，尤其是能出演一部关于耶稣童年岁月的新电影，这个想法太吸引我了。我饰演的是那个被耶稣治愈的麻风病人，因为耶稣所到之处，凡他触摸过的人，都得到了治愈。我从经文里知道这个故事，但通过表演亲身去体验，感觉更加奇妙。我身边都是热爱电影、充满激情的了不起的人。几个月后，影院见。 --- 在你的儿童书籍中，《瓦西莉基：埃皮达鲁斯的神奇回声》很出彩。声音对你来说意味着什么？埃皮达鲁斯对你个人而言又有何意义？ 是的，的确《瓦西莉基：埃皮达鲁斯的神奇回声》流传甚广，被很多人阅读，我由衷地感谢我的读者们。我从心底里感谢他们。这本书有了自己的旅程，多年后依然在传播。这是我的骄傲。我当初就坚信它会受欢迎，事实也证明了我的想法——我感到很自豪。 回声是音乐，是声音，是旅程，是情感，也是发现。对我这个演员来说，埃皮达鲁斯包含了所有这些元素。在这里，我想感谢我的出版商——**米哈利斯·西德里出版社**，感谢他们让我的女主角瓦西莉基有了这段美好的旅程。 --- 在你的《亚里士多德的漫步》一书中，你向孩子们介绍了这位伟大的哲学家。亚里士多德在当今时代有何现实意义？通过这次“漫步”，你个人有什么发现？ 这本特别的书来自卡克托斯出版社，书名是《亚里士多德的漫步》。它有个特别之处：通过第一页上的二维码，轻轻一点，你就能听到这本书的内容。 亚里士多德总能触动我——尤其是他的方法，我认为把这些传递给孩子们是很有意义的。关于你问的亚里士多德在当今是否有意义，我的回答是，尽管他的著作是几千年前写的，但在2025年的今天，他依然有着惊人的现实意义。从伦理学、政治学，到逻辑学以及他的逍遥学派方法，皆是如此。 我想提一下亚里士多德对美德的看法：他说美德存在于中庸之中。在2025年的当今时代，平衡很重要。就我个人而言，我在生活的各个方面都找到了平衡。这很有帮助——就像有个心理医生一样。我鼓励大家去了解亚里士多德，他会对你有帮助的。 --- 你写这些精彩的儿童书籍，灵感来自哪里？ 这取决于我想通过书籍向孩子们传递什么。我会和出版商讨论，然后就按这个方向去做。灵感是自然而然产生的——我不会去强求。 --- </div> 在你的儿童书籍中，你最喜欢哪一本？为什么？ 我没有特别偏爱的一本。所有的书都像我的孩子一样。我就是这么对待它们的。它们是我的创作——我赋予了它们血肉，让它们能够流传下去。 --- 你在戏剧、电视和电影中塑造了很多角色。哪个角色让你印象最深刻？它给你留下了什么？ 在电影《埃夫蒂希亚》中，我饰演了未婚夫这个角色。我们有一群非常棒的演员，想起在卫城脚下的那些日子，我就很怀念。导演安杰洛斯·弗兰齐斯先生起到了很重要的作用——他是一位能巧妙地让你融入时代氛围以便你更好表演的导演。 --- 如果必须选择，你更喜欢演戏还是写作？ 两者都是我生活的一部分。这是我所学的，也是我所做的。能做自己热爱的事情，是一种福气。生命很短暂。 --- 虽然我最初是在电视上认识你的，但通过我的朋友兼合作伙伴伊娃·彼得罗普卢-利亚努，我对你有了更深的了解，也是她建议我采访你的。伊娃·彼得罗普卢-利亚努对你来说是什么样的人？ 啊，这个女子……就我个人而言，她是个了不起的女性。更具体地说，世界上有很多女性，但在希腊，住着一位女神——伊娃·利亚努·彼得罗普卢。在我人生最艰难的时候，是她支持了我。 当你遭遇不幸时，能有人给予心理支持，这太重要了。我成了孤儿，孤身一人，是伊娃帮了我大忙，让我能继续前行，能以更自由、更清晰的视角看待事物。 --- 你认为戏剧在当今能成为对孩子们很重要的教育工具吗？ 当然！这就是为什么会有戏剧教育学，以及针对未成年人乃至更多人的戏剧表演活动。我过去教过很多年书，那段美好的经历我永远不会忘记。我希望能从当初停下的地方重新开始。 有成千上万的练习，涉及节奏、方向感、沟通、自尊、尊重他人、发现另一个世界和真实世界等方面。这些练习对自己的内心以及身边的人都有帮助。非常重要。 --- 你希望年轻读者和观众们怎样记住你？ 带着微笑。这就是我所希望的。 --- 作为演员和作家，你接下来有什么计划？ 我目前正在为法国的三个电视广告试镜。过几天，我就能知道结果了。同时，我已经开始根据自己亲身经历的一个真实故事写一段戏剧独白，我想把它写下来——希望能把它搬上舞台。 这段独白涉及雅典市中心犯罪的新现状。最近，我在一次袭击中幸存了下来——但这让我产生了一个疑问，关于一个不关心希腊公民的国家。我们没有应有的权利，而其他人却有，我认为这是一种耻辱。这不是种族主义——种族主义存在于我们自己心中。 在我看来，我们必须回归到曾经的人性。 在此，我想向希腊政府发出呼吁：请开展关于人性的活动。如果你看到街上有人流血，拨打100（警察紧急电话）并不可耻。拨打100，告知地点，然后离开——但一定要打这个电话。不要因为害怕而路过不管。拨打100并不可耻。这是在提供帮助——因为昨天是我，明天可能就是你。