Here’s to you, Olympia

Considering COVID turned 2020 into the line in the sand between before and now, I can remember a time in 2019...Actually, no. Honestly, 2019 was also a flawed year wrapped up in one ugly orange combover. But there was at least one bright spot. On a breezy spring day, I attended the screening of Olympia at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. The film, a loving tribute to the life and career of Oscar-winning actress Olympia Dukakis, was followed by a Q&A with the actress herself. What struck me most about the experience was how Olympia was as vibrant off the screen as on. It was a delight to listen to her stories and see the woman behind the characters I loved, from Rose in Moonstruck to Clairee in Steel Magnolias. When I heard that Olympia passed away, I wanted to pay tribute in my own way and celebrate such a fierce, wonderful woman who meant so much to so many people. Here’s to you, Olympia.

Olympia - The Documentary

An intimate, fly-on-the-wall portrait of Olympia's life, following her 80th birthday, Olympia seamlessly blends the past and the present of Olympia's personal and professional achievements. From her rejection of patriarchal societal norms to the anti-Greek discrimination she experienced growing up, Olympia became a strong advocate for women's rights and an LGBTQ+ ally.

Moonstruck

Prior to her illustrious acting career, Olympia spent decades on the stage. She alongside her husband, fellow actor Louis Zorich, co-founded the Whole Theater Company. Olympia won an Obie Award for Best Actress in 1963 for her performance in the off-Broadway production of Man Equals Man. She then went onto acting, hitting her stride with Moonstruck where she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

1988 Academy Awards - Best Supporting Actress Acceptance Speech

“My ambition wasn’t to win the Oscar. It was to play the great parts.” - Olympia Dukakis

Steel Magnolias

And, of course, there was her other iconic role: Clairee Belcher in Steel Magnolias.

Olympia made a career out of playing no-nonsense, strong matriarchal women. But what made her performances so powerful was her ability to transform those iconical matron figures into a complex, nuanced characters full of warmth, vulnerability, and humour.

"I think we're socialized out of being women, and then we have to find our way back to it. That's hard to do." - Olympia Dukakis

Tale of the City

Another one of her most memorable roles was the transgender pot-loving landlord, Anna Madrigal, in the landmark PBS miniseries Tale of the City. Olympia returned to the role in the Nextflix revival of the show in 2019.

In a 2001 interview with The Guardian, Olympia reflected on her success. “Maybe good fortune comes to you for the same reason as bad,” she said. “It’s all about understanding more: You learn a lot of things when you’re struggling, and other things when you’re what the world calls successful. Or perhaps it’s just something that happens. Some days it’s cold, and some days it’s hot.”

Cloudburst

A long time ally for the LGBTQ+ community, Olympia also appeared in the 2011 film, Cloudburst, alongside Brenda Fricker as a lesbian couple on the run from a nursing home. They go on a Themla and Louise-style road trip to Canada so they can get married.

“Never let anyone intimidate you….justice always prevails” - Olympia Dukakis

Olympia speaking on the strength and perseverance of the LGBTQ+ community

Olympia's last film appearance will be posthumous. She played a judge in the film Not to Forget, which is set to premiere this year. A few years ago, Olympia was asked about her retirement plans by The Toronto Sun. Her response:

“From what? I love this chaotic, contradictory, loving mess that has been my life.”

It's hard to sum up a person's life, especially someone as spectacular as Olympia. But it's comforting to know that she loved the life she lived.