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The several hours that world-famous and Oscar award-winning director Alexander Payne spent in the Greek city of Egio were enough to completely change his life, reports the Greek online edition iefimerida.gr.

In May this year, he visited the town of origin of part of his family at the invitation of the local municipality and together with his mother Peggy the director attended an event in his honour. Subsequently he visited the shop that his family owned a few decades ago and gave a press conference.

Alexander Payne with Egio Mayor and Greek actress Maria Kalimani

A young girl among the audience attracted Payne’s attention. They quickly met as the 27-year-old philologist Maria Kontou had been sent by Egio municipality to accompany Alexander Payne while visiting various archaeological sites in Athens. During the tour the two discovered that not only did they like each other but they also felt chemistry.

Maria Kontou during the press conference of Alexander Payne in Egio

At some point, the journey of the director ended and he returned to the United States but he stayed in contact with the young philologist from Egio. A month later Maria Kontou left for the United States, apparently to be close to the man with whom she was in love.

According to the edition, 54-year-old Alexander and 27-year-old Maria are already married. A few hours ago, she changed her Facebook status to "married". According to sources, the couple will organize a wedding ceremony in a church in Egio in November.

This is Alexander Payne's second marriage. From 2003 to 2006, he was married to Canadian actress Sandra Oh, famous for the role of Dr. Cristina Yang in the popular series "Grey's Anatomy."