Marios Ioannou

Marios Ioannou is a critically acclaimed Greek Cypriot actor working across theatre, film, and television. Bilingual in English and Greek, he brings emotional nuance, physical precision, and creative depth to each role he inhabits.

Marios’ journey began on the stage, where he built a strong foundation in classical and contemporary theatre. Among his most acclaimed performances are Büchner’s Woyzeck (with stagings in Zurich, Berlin, and Stuttgart), Casca in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and Ben in Lars Von Trier’s Dogville at the National Theatre of Greece. His haunting portrayal of the Madman in Gogol’s Diary of a Madman captivated audiences in both London and Cyprus. In Fear Industry, a devised theatre piece directed by Achim Wieland, Marios tackled multiple characters in a performance that toured Athens, Berlin, Gothenburg, Malmö, and Bremen — earning “Best Theatre Performance on Berlin Stages 2016” by Zitty Magazine.

For the past six years, Marios has toured extensively across Europe as the elegant yet complex Geisha Kikuno Hana in Tea Ceremony, co-written with Achim Wieland. The production was honoured with awards in Milan and Montenegro and performed in Rome, Berlin, Sarajevo, and Torino.

In cinema, Marios has worked with acclaimed directors such as Nikos Koundouros, Renos Charalambides, Pashalis Tsarouchas, Elias Demetriou, Adonis Florides, Sylvia Nicolaides, Yiannis Vesleme, Ioakeim Mylonas, and Vladan Subotic. His breakthrough came with his award-winning lead role as Mustafa, a Syrian refugee, in Kalabush, for which he won Best Actor at the 2002 Thessaloniki International Film Festival. A decade later, his performance as cockney chef Andy in Fish ‘n Chips earned him an Honourable Mention at the International Film Days Festival in Cyprus, with The Hollywood Reporter describing his work as “subtle and endearing.” More recently, his portrayal of trans woman Zena in Tsikitigklon – The Fairy and the Man garnered Best Performance awards at ISFFC in Cyprus and the Spicy Indie International Film Festival in Greece.

His television work is equally bold, featuring standout roles as a man with a disability (Mila Mou, Sigma TV), a desperate addict (Kokkinos Kyklos, Alpha TV), and a closeted trans woman (Karma, Alpha Cyprus), which bring sensitivity and complexity to stories that often go untold.

In 2017, Marios was appointed by the European Capital of Culture Organisation Pafos 2017 to write and direct “Uniting the Mediterranean Sea,” an ambitious international co-production featuring actors from Morocco, Spain, Turkey, Egypt, France, and Cyprus. The piece had a profound impact on both its audiences and participants.

Beyond performance, Marios is a sought-after Voice, Communication and Presentation Coach, working with artists, professionals, and business leaders. His signature programme, Voice It With Style, blends theatrical insight with real-world confidence.