<P> John Erskine's 1925 bestselling novel The Private Life of Helen of Troy portrayed Helen as a "sensible, bourgeois heroine", but the 1927 silent film of the same name, directed by Alexander Korda, transformed Helen into "a shopaholic fashion maven". In 1928, Richard Strauss wrote the German opera Die ägyptische Helena (The Egyptian Helena), which is the story of Helen and Menelaus's troubles when they are marooned on a mythical island . </P> <P> The 1951 Swedish film Sköna Helena is an adapted version of Offenbach's operetta, starring Max Hansen and Eva Dahlbeck In 1956, a Franco - British epic titled Helen of Troy was released, directed by Oscar - winning director Robert Wise and starring Italian actress Rossana Podestà in the title role . It was filmed in Italy, and featured well - known British character actors such as Harry Andrews, Cedric Hardwicke, and Torin Thatcher in supporting roles . </P> <P> In the 1998 TV Series Hercules, Helen appears as a supporting character at Prometheus Academy as a student . Helen is caring and enthusiastic . She was the most popular girl in the academy and Adonis' girlfriend . Helen tries her best to keep Adonis from being a jerk but mostly fails . She likes Hercules but as a friend . She is a princess as in the myth but is not a half - sister of Hercules in the series . She was voiced by Jodi Benson . </P> <P> A 2003 television version of Helen's life up to the fall of Troy, Helen of Troy, in which she was played by Sienna Guillory . In this version, Helen is depicted as unhappy in her marriage and willingly runs away with Paris, with whom she has fallen in love, but still returns to Menelaus after Paris dies and Troy falls . Helen was portrayed by Diane Kruger in the 2004 film Troy . In this adaptation, as in the 2003 television version, she is unhappy with Menelaus and willingly leaves with Paris, whom she loves . She also does not return to Sparta with Menelaus (who is killed by Hector) but escapes Troy with Paris and other survivors when the city falls . Jacob M. Appel's 2008 play, Helen of Sparta, retells Homer's Iliad from Helen's point of view . </P>

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