Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson just received some Big Fat Greek Citizenships.
The couple says they have spent much of their summers for years in the Mediterranean country, where they own property, are observers of the Greek Orthodox faith, and Wilson herself has Greek Heritage.
From CNN:
Wilson, who is part Greek, and Hanks, a Greek Orthodox convert, have often been spotted spending their vacations in Greece, where they also own property on the island of Antiparos.
The two have produced several films based on the Greek community and never shy away from sharing their admiration for the country and its people.
"I've been Hellenic now for the better part of 32 years," Hanks told reporters at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards earlier this year. "Greece is a haven… I've been around the world, I've been to the most beautiful places in the world, none of them tops Greece."
"The land, the sky, the water, it's good for the soul, it's a healing place," Hanks said."
The BBC also reports on the news of Hank's new citizenship, noting their work to raise funds to help victims of wild fires in Greece:
The couple posed for a picture with their new passports alongside Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his wife.
The PM posted the picture on Instagram on Saturday. Hanks and Wilson "are now proud Greek citizens", he wrote.
Greek media said the meeting took place on the island of Antiparos.
Hanks, Wilson and their children were granted honorary Greek citizenship last year for their role in bringing attention to a devastating wildfire near Athens in July 2018.
The wildfire ripped through the seaside village of Mati, killing more than 100 people.
Speaking to CNN in December, Greece's Interior Minister Takis Theodorikakos said Hanks "showed real interest in the people who suffered from the fire in Mati and promoted this issue in the global media."
While the actor announced this honorary citizenship being granted to him as early as January, there are many online who have a more suspicious view of the move.
Suspicions are linked to ongoing Epstein investigations and some are accusing Hanks as being linked to the child trafficker, and believe the move is linked to Greece's recent move designating pedophilia as a "disability":
Personally, I would find any link to Tom Hanks and Jeffrey Epstein to be a great tragedy to American film.
From "Saving Private Ryan" to the "Band of Brothers" & "The Pacific" series, Tom Hanks has done a great deal to honor the sacrifices of our Greatest Generation.
Only time will tell, but I for one, will hope the accusations to prove false.
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!