Tom Hanks named honorary citizen of Greece

Tom Hanks was awarded honorary Greek citizenship on Friday, the state Athens News Agency said, adding an official touch to a long love affair with the country.

A document that confirmed the distinction was signed by Greek president Prokopis Pavlopoulos, RTE reports, citing ANA.

The 63-year-old actor and filmmaker's wife, producer Rita Wilson, is also of Greek origin on her mother's side.

There is considerable pride in Greece that Hanks, one of Hollywood's most bankable stars, has a summer house on the picturesque island of Antiparos and visits every year.

Hanks has said that he feels "110 percent Greek...I'm more Greek than a Greek is" by being married to Wilson, who co-produced My Big Fat Greek Wedding with her husband.

Greece isn't the only country Hanks has expressed an affinity with. The actor has previously talked about his love for Ireland and the influence of the late Irish actor Vincent Dowling had on him when he was a young actor.

Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment in 2016, Hanks revealed that Dowling gave him his first acting break back in the seventies when he was starting out in theatre in Ohio.