Dora Volanaki was born in 1915 in Athens and studied at the Drama School of the National Theatre as well as at the French Academy and the British Institute. She also translated aesthetic essays (My Life in Art, Stanislavski) and plays. She adapted plays for the radio. She made her debut in the theatre in 1933 and in 1935 became a member of the Greek Theatre Association. From 1943 until the end of the Occupation, she was a key figure in the State Theatre of Thessaloniki. Later, for several years, she collaborated with the troupe of her teacher, Dimitris Rontiris, and with many troupes of well-known leading actors. Dora Volanaki passed away at the age of 83, on May 12, 1998.

Filmography