NEW YORK – By Markos Papadatos
[Photo Courtesy of Sumerian Pictures]
Greek-Canadian actress Marie Avgeropoulos (“The 100”) spoke with Greek-American journalist Markos Papadatos at the “Queen of the Ring” premiere in New York City. Avgeropoulos opened up about her Greek roots and discussed her new wrestling movie, which was directed by Ash Avildsen.
Oscar-winning screenwriter and novelist John Orving once said: “I have pretty thick skin, and I think if you’re going to be in this business, if you’re going to be an actor or a writer, you better have a thick skin.” Marie Avgeropoulos embodies this quote wise.
Avgeropoulos is known for her portrayal of Octavia Blake in the hit post-apocalyptic sci-fi TV series “The 100,” which ran for seven seasons on The CW.
The synopsis of “Queen of the Ring” is: In a time when professional wrestling for women was illegal all over the country, a small-town single mother Mildred Burke (played by Emily Bett Rickards) embraces the danger to change culture as she dominates America’s most masculine sport to become the first million -dollar female athlete in history. “Emily was awesome in the role of Mildred,” she said.
On being a part of this wrestling film “Queen of the Ring,” Avgeropoulos stated, “I loved learning how to wrestle. It was a lot of fun, especially being around all of these amazing women.”
In this movie, Avgeropoulos plays the role of iconic female wrestler Elvira Snodgrass, who was raised in rural Louisiana and is considered to be the “forgotten woman” from the Golden Age of female grapplers.
Snodgrass was a legitimate shooter in pro wrestling, and that meant she could fight for real, a shoot match, no script. She was feared, respected and loyal.
“It was neat to tell the story of Mildred Burke and how women’s wrestling originated in the ’40s. I loved playing Elvira, and it was an honor to tell that story,” Avgeropoulos said.
Avgeropoulos also took some time to trace her Greek roots and heritage. “My father was born in Krokilio in Greece, which is a settlement north of Nafpaktos. I really like saganaki and spanakopita, and I really love Greek people,” she said.
“I just love having Greek people around me so we can dance,” she said with a sweet laugh.
On the title of the current chapter of her life, Avgeropoulos revealed, “Thick Skin.” “You need thick skin in this life because life is not easy,” she explained.
For young and emerging actors, Avgeropoulos encouraged them “to be brave and to have thick skin.”
Avgeropoulos went on to share a motivational story that happened in her own life. “I went to television broadcast journalism school, and I quit my job because I tried to tell good news, and my boss told me that ‘only bad news is worthy.’ I said ‘good, I quit!’ She said: ‘Marie, do you know how many people fought for this job?’ and I’m like ‘well, good, honey, you won’t have a problem filling mine’.”
“So, my advice to you all is thick skin,” she underscored. “You need thick skin, and it’s important. That’s it!”
Avgeropoulos defined the word success simply as “health, happiness, and family.”
For fans and viewers, Avgeropoulos concluded about the film, “By watching this movie, I want people to know that women are powerful, and they always have been.”
To learn more about Greek-Canadian actress Marie Avgeropoulos, follow her on Instagram.
