Greek actress and singer Irene Papas, who rose to international fame starring in classic 1960s films such as Zorba the Greek and The Guns of Navarone, has died aged 96.

Zorba the Greek, in which she starred alongside Anthony Quinn and Alan Bates, captivated international audiences.

"Magnificent, dynamic, Irene Papas was the personification of Greek beauty on the cinema screens and on stage, an international star who radiated Greekness," Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said in a statement. "With the power of her talent and the charm of her personality, she conquered the world of cinema and theater."

Among her biggest early successes was the lead role in Electra in 1962, a cinematic transcription of the ancient Greek tragedy by Euripides.

With long dark hair, pale skin and thick arched eyebrows, Papas became a symbol of Mediterranean beauty.

She suffered from Alzheimer's disease in recent years according to Greek media. The Ministry of Culture did not say when she died.

Through the Albanian media, it has been rumored that Irene has Albanian origins, but this issue seems to be a closed cycle unsupported by evidence.