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Eleanna Finokalioti (Eleanna Fin)

www.eleannafin.com

Eleanna Finokalioti is a musical performer and an actress from Greece. She was born in Athens and spent her childhood and teenage years in Crete and Rhodes islands.

Right after high school she joined the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She studied Mathematics for a short time, but her true goal was to study theatre. She started attending Music at the National Conservatory of Athens, Acting courses at the “Theatre of Changes”, and Dance classes. The next year she joined Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, from which she graduated, getting her Bachelor’s Degree in Performing Arts, with distinction.

Eleanna started acting from a very young age, having her first lead role in Grease in 2004, with the theatrical team of Reading High School, England, where she was attending part time courses. In 2010, she won the 2nd Best Actress Award for her performance as Juliet in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, in the Olive Festival of Milan. In 2012, Eleanna had the lead role in the theatrical play Mia Amygdalia Anthizi sti Nekri Gi, in Paramythia Theatre, Athens. The play’s song, Anatoli mou, was written for her to perform, by the acclaimed Greek composer and singer P. Thalassinos. In 2013, she had the lead role of Electra in Ruins of Passion, in Topos Allou Theatre, Athens. The same year she performed as The Rose in Oscar Wilde’s The Nightingale and the Rose, in Argo Theatre, Athens. In 2014, also in Argo Theatre, Athens, she had the lead role of Alice in Wonderland in the theatrical play Ta Paramithia To Skasan. Argo Theatre has a 300-person capacity and both shows were on for more than 80 performances each. Also, in 2014, Eleanna participated in the ensemble of the theatrical play Idomeneus, directed by Katerina Evangelatos, current Artistic Director of the Athens Epidaurus Festival, in the Athens and Epidaurus Festival. In 2015, Eleanna, stood out from the ensemble in the successful musical Pios ti Zoi mou - Mikis Theodorakis, in Badminton Theatre, Athens. Badminton Theatre has a 2.450-person capacity and all the performances were sold out. The same year and for two years in a row Eleanna performed with great success in the theatrical play To Kaplani tis Vitrinas, in the Vretania and Avacio Theatres, Athens, having one of the lead roles. The play, due to its successful performances in Athens, was also presented in Megaron Mousikis Thessalonikis, the co-capital of Greece. In 2016, she participated in the ensemble of Thucydides Dramaticus which was presented in Theatro Technis Theatre, Athens and in Eschylia Festival. The play was organized by the Hellenic Education & Research Center and was funded by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and consisted of students and graduates of Drama School and Classics from Greece, Turkey, and the USA.

In 2017, Eleanna performed in the ensemble of The Bacchae, which was presented in the Ancient Stadium of Epidaurus. The play was part of the Closing Ceremony of the Epidaurus Lyceum - The International School of Ancient Drama, in which Eleanna was accepted with a scholarship due to her established talent. The same year she performed as a solo singer in Gia Sena, a musical presented in El Convento Del Arte Stage, Athens.

In 2018, Eleanna stood out from the ensemble in the successful musical Cabaret, by J. Masteroff, which was presented in Pallas Theatre, Athens. Pallas Theatre is the oldest and most famous theatre of Athens and has a 1.500-person capacity. The same year she performed as a supporting actor and also as the main singer in Efthalia tou Galata, covering the most emotional scenes of the play and meeting with great success. The play was presented in Mikro Gloria Theatre, Athens and all the performances were sold out. Due to its success, the play toured in the summer of 2018 all over Greece.

In 2019, Eleanna had a supporting role in Chtypokardia sto Thranio, which was presented in Ivi Theatre, Athens. The same year she had one of the lead roles in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, by Victor Hugo, which was presented in Pallas Theatre, Athens, experiencing great success. Also, she performed in Tinos Festival as a lead singer in Gazies kai Giasemia, a Greek operetta.

All of these years Eleanna continued her training, attending Singing, Acting and Dancing courses to develop her talent. She also performed in many more theatrical shows, mostly as an actor and at the same time she developed her career as a singer.

In 2017, after a year of sold-out performances at Clap Music Stage, Michael Kakoyannis Foundation in Athens, she released her first studio album with the acclaimed classical guitarist P. Margaris Taxidia Psichis (by Polymusic Records). Immediately after its release, the album made it to the Top 15 of the Official IFPI Charts of Greece. The years that followed, Eleanna toured all over Greece, including the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, to present her album and gave many interviews in websites, radio stations and newspapers, on the occasion of the album release.

Eleanna has also made her first steps in the Film industry and commercials. In 2011 she had her first lead role in I Fonissa (S. Arkenti Productions- Best Feature Film in Ionian International Digital Film Festival_ Greece 2013). She had the lead role in two commercials: Samsung Active Dual (2016- airing in Jordan) and Asfour Crystal (2014- airing in Greece).

In 2015 she had supporting roles in The Penal Colony (L. Aliksanyan, M. Cizek Productions-Best Makeup & Best Set Design Award in Cinergo International Film Festival _ Greece 2019, Best Director Award in Sydney Indie Film Festival _ Australia 2017 and Official Selection of the Festival de Cannes) and in Ein Sommer in Griechenland (Ithaca Productions, G. Papavasileiou, ZDF Channel Germany). In 2018 she had the featured role of the famous Greek singer Tzeni Vanou in The Waiter (Filmiki Productions, S. Krikris, a film awarded in many festivals around the world and she took part in the short film Patision Avenue (Argonauts Productions, T. Neofotistos-9 Awards and 23 festival nominations).

In October 2019 she moved in New York to continue developing her career. Since then, among others, she has been attending intensive courses in Singing (N. Weiss and P.Carroll, Dancing (Broadway Dance Center, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Steps on Broadway and Acting (HB Studio. She was also invited by Ann Steele, agent and owner of ASA - AnnSteele Agency, which represents about 100 signed clients for theatre, film, television, and new mediain New York City to start a collaboration. Her first performance in New York City was The Miracle of Christmas, in December 2019, at Queens Theatre.

The same period she was cast in the Off-Broadway production of Anne Frank, A Musical, directed by D. Serero - Actors Temple Theatre, for the lead role of Edith Frank, and for LUX by Dan Forrest, a concert at Carnegie Hall, as a mezzo soprano singer. During the pandemic, along with a team of actors, Eleanna worked in experimental Virtual Theatre, with the play LOVE / SICK, by J. Cariani, directed by R. Bamenga and the Song of Solomon-A New Musical by Andrew Beall, having the lead role of "Almah".

After things started reopening, in 2021, she has been cast for the supporting role of Kayla, in the independent short film No Good Deed (2023 Toronto Black Film Festival), by P. Karambizi, and for the lead role of "Hara" in Dirty Laundry, a feature film by Nicole Anna Pagonis. Also, the same year, she had featured roles in the HULU promo as well as in The Bad Witch.

In 2022 Eleanna was cast for The Tea, Interview with The Stars, having the supporting role of Concubine, at Hackensack Performing Arts Center, NJ. She also performed in A Chorus Line, directed by Michael Kidney, at CDC Theatre, as Sheila and in Goobye New York, A New Musical, by Andrew Beall, next to a “dream Broadway team”, having the supporting roles of "Concilia" and "Dr. Boulay", at Feinstein’s/54 Below and at Theater 555. Also, she performed as a cameo as “Maria Callas” in the production of An Evening with Onassis.

In June 2022 she performed in Requiem Mozart at Carnegie Hall, as part of the Masterwork Festival Chorus and in September 2022 in Mikis Theodorakis-A Tribute to the composer of Zorba, directed by Phyto Stratis, also at Carnegie Hall, as part of the CNY Vocal Ensemble.

In October 2022 Eleanna completed filming the TV series One August Night, based on Victoria Hislop's book, which aired nationally in Greece, as “Fotini”.

In May 2023 Eleanna performed in Human, a dance theatre piece, by Charly Wenzel, based on the poem My Race is Human, by Kamin Singh, presented in HB Playwrights Theatre and Theater for the New City (Lower East Side Festival of the Arts), having one of the lead roles. The production is scheduled to go on a tour across 20 U.S. cities, especially targeting communities that have been directly affected by hate crimes.

Also in May 2023 Eleanna was cast in the Off-Broadway production of "OH SOLEDAD" Musical of a Journey of Peace, directed by Ken Berry, that premiered at Actors Temple Theatre, in August 2023. The production's executive producers were Rob Hinderliter, recent Tony Award winner for COMPANY and a multiple Tony, Olivier, & Drama Desk nominated stage & film producer, and Todd Stevens, the celebrated Emmy Award winning Producer of FRIENDS. etc.

In March 2024, Eleanna had the honor to be invited to join the 2025 ALPINALE Short Film Festival as a jury member.

Eleanna has the lead role of Sophia Vembo, in the Off-Broadway musical theatre production SOPHIA VEMBO I REMEMBER YOU. SOPHIA VEMBO I REMEMBER YOU, directed by George Stamou, premiered on April 12 2024, at THESPIS theater, at the Hellenic Cultural Center NYC, as part of the GRis Festival, a celebratory cultural festival with artistic events supporting the town-twinning between New York and Greece, which will continue with performances in the US.

Since 2019, Eleanna has been performing as the lead singer/performer in more than 100 live concerts-gigs in venues, festivals, and private performances in and out of New York City. All these years she has also participated in commercials and photo shootings in New York and Greece and in entertainment shows in Greek TV. This period she is working on her new video clip which will be released in August 2024 and continues with her live concert schedule in and out of New York City.

Eleanna sings and acts in Greek, English, Spanish, Italian and Turkish.