Italy for me From Italy with love
“There is a source of youth: it is your mind, your talent, the creativity that you bring into your life and the lives of your loved ones. When you learn to drink from this source, you truly defeat age.” – Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren, still a stunning figure, recently celebrated her ninetieth birthday and continues to delight the eyes of her fans and admirers. She was considered the best Italian actress in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, and still holds that honorary title. Her career was incredibly swift and successful: Sophia appeared in over 80 films and received numerous awards. She proved herself not only in her career but also in her personal life, showing the world that she is a wonderful mother and wife. But let’s take it step by step.
Page Contents
Early Career
Sophia Loren was born on September 20, 1934, and was named Sofia Villani Scicolone. It’s hard to imagine, but she was a rather slim teenager, which earned her the nickname “steketto” (which translates to “twig”), and she didn’t stand out from her peers. Her parents were aspiring actress Romilda and a simple engineer Riccardo, who were not legally married since both of them had spouses, but Italian laws at the time prohibited divorces. Sophia had a sister named Anna Maria, and the two girls were inseparable during their childhood. They lived with their paternal grandmother in Pozzuoli, near Naples.
During World War II, the town of Pozzuoli was frequently targeted by attacks due to its proximity to the sea and a military factory. For their safety, the family moved to Naples and returned to Pozzuoli only after the war ended. It was then that Loren’s grandmother opened her own pub in the town. Sophia’s mother played the piano there, Maria sang, and the future star of Italian cinema worked as a waitress.
In 1950, Sophia participated in the Miss Italy beauty pageant under the pseudonym Sofia Lazzaro, where she didn’t win but was awarded the title of “Miss Elegance.” It was during this time that she caught the attention of renowned producer Carlo Ponti, who was a member of the beauty contest jury. Sophia was only 14 years old, while Ponti was 37. Enchanted by Sophia, Ponti invited her to appear in his films in minor roles. One of her notable early roles was playing the slave Ligia in the film “Quo Vadis” (1951), which served as a starting point for Sophia’s career. After that, the aspiring actress changed her stage name to the well-known variation, Sophia Loren, under which she appeared in the film “La Favorita” (1952).
Success and Her Co-stars
The turning point in Loren’s career came with her role in the film “The Gold of Naples” (1954), directed by Vittorio De Sica. In the film “Too Bad She’s Bad” (1954), Sophia starred alongside Marcello Mastroianni for the first time, and their partnership would last for a long time. Over the next three years, the actress graced many famous films that are still celebrated today, including “Bread, Love and…” (1955) and “Lucky to Be a Woman” (1956).
In 1957, Sophia began her foray into Hollywood with films like “Boy on a Dolphin” (1957), “Legend of the Lost” (1957), and “The Pride and the Passion” (1957) alongside Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra. In 1958, the actress signed a lucrative contract with Paramount Pictures, which proved to be a turning point in her career.
In 1960, Loren was offered a million dollars to star in the film “The Fall of the Roman Empire” as Lucilla, making her a millionaire. Her performance in the film “Two Women” (1960), directed by Vittorio De Sica, where she starred alongside Jean-Paul Belmondo, earned her the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival and an Academy Award in the same category. The film received over 20 international awards from renowned film festivals worldwide.
Loren received her second Academy Award for her role in “Marriage Italian Style” (1964), where she acted alongside her good friend Mastroianni. While the list of films in which Loren appeared is extensive, some notable ones include “El Cid” (1961) with Charlton Heston, “The Millionairess” (1960) with Peter Sellers, “It Started in Naples” (1960) with Clark Gable, and “Arabesque” (1966) with Gregory Peck.
In the 1970s, the Italian actress starred alongside Richard Burton in the film “Il Viaggio” (The Journey, 1974), for which she received the David di Donatello Award for Best Actress.
Sophia Loren’s True Love
Sophia often appeared in films with the most famous actors who were also the most desirable bachelors of that time. On-screen, she shone as a sex symbol and was adored by many. In reality, during the filming of the movie “Houseboat” (1958), Cary Grant would send flowers to his co-star and passionately tried to convince her to leave her husband for him. However, Sophia remained faithful to her one and only husband, Carlo Ponti, expressing her love for the film producer throughout her entire life, until his death in 2007.
The couple got married in 1957, but in 1962, their marriage was annulled due to Ponti’s bigamy charges. Carlo had been previously married, and at that time, Italian law did not recognize divorces. In 1965, Ponti, Sophia, and Giuliana, Carlo’s first wife, traveled to Paris together to finally get a divorce. Once Ponti became officially single, he wasted no time in proposing to Loren again, and the couple soon acquired French citizenship. They had two children together, Carlo Ponti Jr. in 1968 and Edoardo Ponti in 1973. While on maternity leave, Sophia reevaluated her hectic filming schedule, deciding to dedicate all her attention to her children.
In 1980, the biography of the actress, “Sofia Loren: Living and Loving,” was published and quickly became a huge success worldwide. The Italian actress also launched her own line of perfumes. In 1982, she spent 18 days in prison without objection for tax evasion. However, in 2013, all charges against the style icon were dropped.
Awards and Recognition
Sophia Loren holds the record among actors for the number of awards she has received. The iconic star boasts six David di Donatello Awards for Best Actress. In addition to her Oscars, Loren has also won a Grammy, five special Golden Globes, a BAFTA award, and many other symbols of success in her acting career. In 1994, she was honored with the 2000th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Sophia is a passionate fan of the Napoli football team. She has recorded over twenty songs, including several duets with Peter Sellers. It is worth mentioning that she has posed for photographers as a model, including for the Pirelli Calendar in 2007, where, at the age of 72, she showcased her amazing figure. Currently, Sophia lives in Geneva, but she also has homes in Naples and Rome. She has dedicated many decades to Italian cinema, making her the true gem of the industry.
Interesting Facts about Sophia Loren
- Sophia Loren, born Sofia Villani Scicolone, entered the world on September 20, 1934, in Rome, Italy. Her humble beginnings in poverty-stricken Pozzuoli formed the backdrop for her rise to stardom.
- In 1961, Sophia Loren became the first actor to win an Academy Award for a foreign-language performance. She received the prestigious Oscar for her role in the Italian film “Two Women” (La Ciociara), directed by Vittorio De Sica.
- Loren’s undeniable beauty captivated audiences worldwide, and she was often compared to another iconic Italian actress, Gina Lollobrigida. The media fueled a supposed rivalry between them, but Loren dismissed it, stating they were friends and had great respect for each other’s talent.
- During the 1950s and 1960s, Loren’s international fame skyrocketed, leading her to Hollywood. She starred alongside notable actors like Marlon Brando, Cary Grant, and Paul Newman in films such as “Houseboat,” “It Started in Naples,” and “The Millionairess.”
- Sophia Loren’s timeless elegance extended beyond the silver screen. She embraced her voluptuous figure, becoming a symbol of sensuality and femininity. Her signature cat-eye makeup and glamorous fashion choices inspired women around the world.
- Loren’s talent wasn’t limited to acting; she also ventured into the world of music. In 1957, she released her debut single, “S’agapò” (I Love You), which became a hit in Italy. Throughout her career, she recorded several albums and performed alongside renowned singers like Frank Sinatra and Eros Ramazzotti.
- Sophia Loren’s legacy goes beyond her filmography. She is an advocate for human rights, especially for children’s welfare. In 1999, she was named a Goodwill Ambassador by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and actively supports various charitable causes.