Spotlight Interview: Elena Kampouris

by: Jacob Naclerio

This past month, I had the privilege to talk with internationally acclaimed actress (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2” and the Netflix series Jupiter’s Legacy”) and avid supporter of the Loukoumi Foundation, Elena Kampouris. Throughout our interview, we discussed the ways she uses her platform to spread awareness for causes that are important to her. 

From the very beginning of the interview, Elena’s enthusiasm about the causes she supports was extremely evident. As we began to talk about these causes, she mentioned her profound support for the deaf community. Elena then explained to me that this passion towards raising awareness began inside of a Chinese noodle shop in which many of the patrons were deaf. It was through the customers of this noodle shop that Elena began to use her social media platform to spread awareness. On her Instagram, which has approximately 100,000 followers, Elena posts videos of herself singing while simultaneously signing the lyrics of her favorite songs. 

However, support of the deaf community was not the only thing that this Chinese noodle shop fostered in Elena. In our interview, Elena spoke of her love for different cultures, as well as her patriotism for her own Greek, Egyptian, and French backgrounds. As she got to know the patrons of the shop, Elena began to learn more about Chinese culture, specifically ballet. Along with Chinese culture, Elena also began to learn about its unique language.  

One of the first things Elena told me in our interview was how much she loved to study foreign languages and cultures. She then explained how one of her favorite ways to immerse herself in a foreign culture was to sing in its language. Elena told me how, at the Chinese noodle shop , she would sing to the owner in Chinese. Aside from Chinese, Elena also told me about her love for the Italian language, and how much she loves to sing Italian music. 

Towards the end of our interview, Elena and I talked more specifically about how she uses her platform to raise awareness for her favorite causes. She explained to me how her goal is to reach younger children through social media and how she attempts to use the roles she plays in movies and TV shows to bring awareness to issues. On a concluding note, Elena mentioned how her main goal is to spread acceptance and awareness to various causes through foundations such as Loukoumi, as well as promote kindness and positivity wherever she goes. I think I speak for everyone at the Loukoumi Foundation when I say we are honored to have such an amazing, kind, and devoted supporter in Elena. 

Elena Kampouris in the Netflix series “Jupiter’s Legacy”