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0 / 30 Fotos
A living legend
- Sophia Loren, a prominent figure in Italian cinema, is often regarded as the leading diva. Much like Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte Bardot, she has achieved international fame.
© Getty Images
1 / 30 Fotos
Persistence
- However, the Italian beauty faced challenges in reaching Hollywood audiences.
© Getty Images
2 / 30 Fotos
Origins
- Loren was born into a modest family and raised in Naples. Her mother was a piano teacher, and her father worked as an engineer.
© Getty Images
3 / 30 Fotos
Miss Italia
- In 1950, at the age of 16, Sophia Loren relocated to Rome to participate in the Miss Italia beauty contest. She secured second position as the judges found her "too sexy" for the prevailing aesthetic standards of that era.
© Getty Images
4 / 30 Fotos
Surprised
- Loren is shown relaxing while in her flat in Rome.
© Getty Images
5 / 30 Fotos
Controversy
- Loren was involved in several scandals before she gained worldwide fame. One of these scandals revolved around her relationship with producer Carlo Ponti, who was already married and 20 years older than Loren.
© Getty Images
6 / 30 Fotos
The wedding
- Since divorce was unacceptable back then, the couple kept their relationship a secret. Only in 1966 did they get married, but they were together until Ponti passed away in 2007.
© Getty Images
7 / 30 Fotos
Children
- The couple had two sons named Edoardo Ponti and Carlo Ponti Jr.
© Getty Images
8 / 30 Fotos
Cleopatra
- Sophia Loren starred in her first major role in 'Two Nights with Cleopatra' (1954), directed by Mario Mattoli. The film features her as the renowned Egyptian queen.
© BrunoPress
9 / 30 Fotos
Global achievement
- The diva gained media attention after securing a deal with Paramount Pictures in 1958 for five films.
© Getty Images
10 / 30 Fotos
The first Oscar
- Despite already being well-known in Hollywood, her breakthrough award came with the film 'Two Women' (1960). She won the Academy Award for Best Actress, becoming the first actress to win an Oscar for a non-English movie.
© Getty Images
11 / 30 Fotos
Famed leading men
- Loren worked with the top leading men of her era. This was true for 1961's 'El Cid,' in which she starred alongside Charlton Heston.
© BrunoPress
12 / 30 Fotos
Suitors
- In her memoir, the actress disclosed that the renowned actor Cary Grant proposed marriage to her. The two had worked together on the film 'The Pride and the Passion' (1957, pictured). Richard Burton, who was wedded to Elizabeth Taylor, was also rumored to be an admirer of Sophia Loren, as he regularly sent her letters.
© BrunoPress
13 / 30 Fotos
At the peak of her success
- In 1964, Loren achieved the height of her professional success through her performance in 'The Fall of the Roman Empire,' earning a substantial US$1 million.
© BrunoPress
14 / 30 Fotos
Globetrotter
- Sophia Loren appeared in numerous international films such as 'Arabesque' (1966), alongside Gregory Peck, which was shot in England and Wales.
© Getty Images
15 / 30 Fotos
More fun in England
- In 1959, the actress is photographed alongside British star Peter Sellers. Peter Sellers, the renowned comedian known for his role in 'The Pink Panther,' collaborated with Loren in 'The Millionairess' (1960), a film also filmed in England.
© Getty Images
16 / 30 Fotos
Comedian
- In the film 'Marriage Italian Style' (1964), the actress acted alongside Marcello Mastroianni, a close friend and colleague. Additionally, she received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her performance in the comedy.
© BrunoPress
17 / 30 Fotos
Scandal
- Once again, Loren ended up on the front pages of newspapers. This time it was for a 1974 case involving tax evasion and, as a result, she spent 17 days in an Italian prison in 1982.
© Getty Images
18 / 30 Fotos
The second Oscar
- She received the Academy's Honorary Oscar in 1991.
© BrunoPress
19 / 30 Fotos
Movie legend
- In 1999, the American Film Institute recognized Sophia Loren as one of Classic Hollywood's top 25 female stars.
© Getty Images
20 / 30 Fotos
Awards
- In 2001, the actress was honored with the Special Grand Prix of the Americas Award at the Montreal Film Festival for her illustrious career.
© Getty Images
21 / 30 Fotos
A return to Hollywood
- Sophia Loren returned to Hollywood for the 2009 musical 'Nine,' which also featured stars like Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, and Penélope Cruz.
© BrunoPress
22 / 30 Fotos
Recent projects
- In 2014, Sophia Loren appeared in the short film 'Human Voice,' directed by her son Edoardo Ponti.
© BrunoPress
23 / 30 Fotos
Motherly love
- 'Human Voice' premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014. Edoardo Ponti and his mother share a strong personal bond, often spending ample time together outside their professional lives.
© Getty Images
24 / 30 Fotos
Beauty
- As the decades have gone by, Sophia Loren hasn't lost her prominent beauty. At first, she was considered a bombshell. Nowadays, she's an icon of elegance and classic beauty all over the world.
© Getty Images
25 / 30 Fotos
Author
- Sophia Loren, on her 80th birthday, published her most recent book entitled 'Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: My Life.'
© Getty Images
26 / 30 Fotos
Still influential
- The actress is widely recognized for her iconic style. At the age of 81, she collaborated with Dolce&Gabbana to release her lipstick collection.
© Getty Images
27 / 30 Fotos
Vulnerable superstar?
- In 2015, media started reporting on Loren's heart issues and arthritis battles.
© Getty Images
28 / 30 Fotos
Health
- Some sources have said that Loren hasn't been focusing as much on her appearance as of late, this due to her health issues. See also: How cinema's finest actors have aged.
© Getty Images
29 / 30 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 30 Fotos
A living legend
- Sophia Loren, a prominent figure in Italian cinema, is often regarded as the leading diva. Much like Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte Bardot, she has achieved international fame.
© Getty Images
1 / 30 Fotos
Persistence
- However, the Italian beauty faced challenges in reaching Hollywood audiences.
© Getty Images
2 / 30 Fotos
Origins
- Loren was born into a modest family and raised in Naples. Her mother was a piano teacher, and her father worked as an engineer.
© Getty Images
3 / 30 Fotos
Miss Italia
- In 1950, at the age of 16, Sophia Loren relocated to Rome to participate in the Miss Italia beauty contest. She secured second position as the judges found her "too sexy" for the prevailing aesthetic standards of that era.
© Getty Images
4 / 30 Fotos
Surprised
- Loren is shown relaxing while in her flat in Rome.
© Getty Images
5 / 30 Fotos
Controversy
- Loren was involved in several scandals before she gained worldwide fame. One of these scandals revolved around her relationship with producer Carlo Ponti, who was already married and 20 years older than Loren.
© Getty Images
6 / 30 Fotos
The wedding
- Since divorce was unacceptable back then, the couple kept their relationship a secret. Only in 1966 did they get married, but they were together until Ponti passed away in 2007.
© Getty Images
7 / 30 Fotos
Children
- The couple had two sons named Edoardo Ponti and Carlo Ponti Jr.
© Getty Images
8 / 30 Fotos
Cleopatra
- Sophia Loren starred in her first major role in 'Two Nights with Cleopatra' (1954), directed by Mario Mattoli. The film features her as the renowned Egyptian queen.
© BrunoPress
9 / 30 Fotos
Global achievement
- The diva gained media attention after securing a deal with Paramount Pictures in 1958 for five films.
© Getty Images
10 / 30 Fotos
The first Oscar
- Despite already being well-known in Hollywood, her breakthrough award came with the film 'Two Women' (1960). She won the Academy Award for Best Actress, becoming the first actress to win an Oscar for a non-English movie.
© Getty Images
11 / 30 Fotos
Famed leading men
- Loren worked with the top leading men of her era. This was true for 1961's 'El Cid,' in which she starred alongside Charlton Heston.
© BrunoPress
12 / 30 Fotos
Suitors
- In her memoir, the actress disclosed that the renowned actor Cary Grant proposed marriage to her. The two had worked together on the film 'The Pride and the Passion' (1957, pictured). Richard Burton, who was wedded to Elizabeth Taylor, was also rumored to be an admirer of Sophia Loren, as he regularly sent her letters.
© BrunoPress
13 / 30 Fotos
At the peak of her success
- In 1964, Loren achieved the height of her professional success through her performance in 'The Fall of the Roman Empire,' earning a substantial US$1 million.
© BrunoPress
14 / 30 Fotos
Globetrotter
- Sophia Loren appeared in numerous international films such as 'Arabesque' (1966), alongside Gregory Peck, which was shot in England and Wales.
© Getty Images
15 / 30 Fotos
More fun in England
- In 1959, the actress is photographed alongside British star Peter Sellers. Peter Sellers, the renowned comedian known for his role in 'The Pink Panther,' collaborated with Loren in 'The Millionairess' (1960), a film also filmed in England.
© Getty Images
16 / 30 Fotos
Comedian
- In the film 'Marriage Italian Style' (1964), the actress acted alongside Marcello Mastroianni, a close friend and colleague. Additionally, she received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her performance in the comedy.
© BrunoPress
17 / 30 Fotos
Scandal
- Once again, Loren ended up on the front pages of newspapers. This time it was for a 1974 case involving tax evasion and, as a result, she spent 17 days in an Italian prison in 1982.
© Getty Images
18 / 30 Fotos
The second Oscar
- She received the Academy's Honorary Oscar in 1991.
© BrunoPress
19 / 30 Fotos
Movie legend
- In 1999, the American Film Institute recognized Sophia Loren as one of Classic Hollywood's top 25 female stars.
© Getty Images
20 / 30 Fotos
Awards
- In 2001, the actress was honored with the Special Grand Prix of the Americas Award at the Montreal Film Festival for her illustrious career.
© Getty Images
21 / 30 Fotos
A return to Hollywood
- Sophia Loren returned to Hollywood for the 2009 musical 'Nine,' which also featured stars like Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, and Penélope Cruz.
© BrunoPress
22 / 30 Fotos
Recent projects
- In 2014, Sophia Loren appeared in the short film 'Human Voice,' directed by her son Edoardo Ponti.
© BrunoPress
23 / 30 Fotos
Motherly love
- 'Human Voice' premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014. Edoardo Ponti and his mother share a strong personal bond, often spending ample time together outside their professional lives.
© Getty Images
24 / 30 Fotos
Beauty
- As the decades have gone by, Sophia Loren hasn't lost her prominent beauty. At first, she was considered a bombshell. Nowadays, she's an icon of elegance and classic beauty all over the world.
© Getty Images
25 / 30 Fotos
Author
- Sophia Loren, on her 80th birthday, published her most recent book entitled 'Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: My Life.'
© Getty Images
26 / 30 Fotos
Still influential
- The actress is widely recognized for her iconic style. At the age of 81, she collaborated with Dolce&Gabbana to release her lipstick collection.
© Getty Images
27 / 30 Fotos
Vulnerable superstar?
- In 2015, media started reporting on Loren's heart issues and arthritis battles.
© Getty Images
28 / 30 Fotos
Health
- Some sources have said that Loren hasn't been focusing as much on her appearance as of late, this due to her health issues. See also: How cinema's finest actors have aged.
© Getty Images
29 / 30 Fotos
Sophia Loren: Celebrating the charm and talent of a legendary star
The Italian icon is 89 years old
© Getty Images
Born in 1934, Sophia Loren has a treasure trove of experiences. As an acclaimed actress, she has achieved both cinematic and aesthetic glory. She starred in numerous successful films, earning Oscars and becoming an iconic figure. However, her eventful career has also sparked a whole lot of controversy.
Click through the gallery to check out the notable moments of her journey.
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