Maria Vassiliou is a Greek actress, known for her distinctive presence in contemporary auteur cinema. Her career is closely tied to the work of director Yorgos Lanthimos, who brought her to international prominence.

She gained global recognition for her unforgettable portrayal of the Mother in the award-winning *Kynodontas* (Dogtooth, 2009), a role that perfectly embodies her acting style: minimalistic, controlled, and unsettling. Her ability to convey a sense of chilling normality in aberrant contexts has become her hallmark. She replicated this collaboration with Lanthimos in the subsequent *Alpeis* (Alps, 2011), solidifying her image as an actress capable of exploring the nuances of the human psyche in the face of the absurd. Vassiliou excels at portraying matriarchal or authoritative figures who passively accept distorted realities, imparting depth and an aura of mystery to her characters.