Claudia Cardinale, the renowned Italian actress known for her roles in iconic European films from the 1960s and 1970s, has died at the age of 87, according to AFP.
She appeared in more than 100 films and television shows, but many remember her most vividly for her portrayal of youthful innocence in Federico Fellini’s 1963 classic “8½,” alongside Marcello Mastroianni.
Another noteworthy performance came in 1968 when she played Angelica Sedara, a reformed prostitute, in the film adaptation of the historical novel “The Leopard,” which coincided with Sergio Leone’s legendary Spaghetti Western style.
Cardinale passed away in Nemours, France, surrounded by her children, as confirmed by her agent, Laurent Savley, although a response to a request for further comments was not immediately received.
She began her journey in film at just 17 after winning a beauty contest in Tunisia, where she was born to Sicilian parents. That victory eventually led her to the Venice Film Festival, catching the eye of the Italian cinema scene.
Interestingly, before that contest, she had aspirations of becoming a school teacher. “I think it’s somewhat of an accident that I’m in film,” she mentioned when receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Berlin Film Festival in 2002. “They asked me to join a movie, but I initially said no, and they kept at it for half a year.”
Inspired by the global fame of Sofia Loren, she was often dubbed Italy’s answer to Brigitte Bardot. Though she never reached the same level of acclaim as some French actresses, she was nonetheless regarded as a significant star, collaborating with leading directors in both Europe and Hollywood.
One of her notable early roles was in the 1958 comedy “The Big Deal on Madonna Street,” produced by Franco Cristaldi, who managed her career and was her husband from 1966 to 1975.
Often cast as a passionate woman, the striking brunette had a deep voice; however, due to her heavy Italian accent, her lines were dubbed in her early roles.
Although her Hollywood career wasn’t as extensive, she still enjoyed some success, notably alongside Rock Hudson in the 1965 comedy thriller “Blindfold,” and later in the comedy “Don’t Make Waves.” Cardinale regarded “The Professionals,” directed by Richard Brooks in 1966, as one of her finest works in Hollywood.
In a 2002 interview, she mentioned that Hollywood studios wanted her to sign an exclusive contract, which she declined, as her heart belonged to European cinema. She recalled, “I had a significant opportunity with Richard Brooks and ‘The Professionals.’ I consider it my best work in Hollywood.”
Her accolades included the prestigious Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival, awarded nearly forty years after her screen debut.
In 2000, she was designated a Goodwill Ambassador for UN Education, Science, and Cultural Organizations, advocating for women’s rights.
She leaves behind two children: one, Cristaldi, and the other from her later partner, Italian director Pasquale Caitierri.
