ATHENS – American award-winning film director, screenwriter and producer Constantine Alexander Payne was sworn in as a Greek citizen at the Consulate General of Greece in Boston on Tuesday, the consulate said on Twitter.

Congratulating Payne, who was born and raised in the United States by parents of Greek descent, it noted that “this was possible thanks to the work of Evgenia Beniatoglou, Consul General of Greece in Los Angeles.”

Greek Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias, who retweeted the consulate’s post, wrote that Payne “proved once again that he does not forget his family roots.”

Congratulations to Oscar-awarded film director, screenwriter & producer Constantine Alexander Payne who was sworn in as a #Greek citizen today at the Consulate General of Greece in Boston. This was possible thanks to the work of Evgenia Beniatoglou, Consul General of Greece in LA pic.twitter.com/iGIIdbq9gD

— Consulate General of Greece in Boston (@GreeceinBoston) February 7, 2022