Actress Claudia Cardinale, considered one of the greatest symbols of post-war Italian cinema, has died at 87, according to French media. Known for her husky voice, independent stance, and a career that spanned decades in film and theater, Cardinale leaves a remarkable legacy in the history of the seventh art.
Raised in Tunisia in a family of Sicilian origin, the actress had her first connection with cinema in 1957, when she won a beauty contest in Tunis and received as a prize a trip to the Venice Film Festival.
Although she began her career in Italian cinema, her voice had to be dubbed in her early roles, since she spoke the Sicilian dialect at home and studied at a French-language school.
+ In a Tight Dress, Paolla Oliveira Stuns by the Seaside and Fans Go Wild Over the Photos
The beginning of her career was also marked by personal difficulties, including a pregnancy kept secret after an abusive relationship. In 1958, she gave birth to her son Patrick, who was raised by her parents and presented for some years as her younger brother.
Her breakthrough came in 1963, when she appeared in 8½, by Federico Fellini, and in The Leopard, by Luchino Visconti, alongside Burt Lancaster. Working on two productions simultaneously brought curious challenges, such as the need to maintain different hair tones for each character.
Her talent opened doors to Hollywood, leading her to star in films such as The Pink Panther (1963), by Blake Edwards, and the classic Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), by Sergio Leone.
In the 1970s, after breaking with producer Franco Cristaldi and beginning a relationship with filmmaker Pasquale Squitieri, she faced a period of ostracism in the Italian industry. Even so, she regained space with the help of directors like Franco Zeffirelli, who cast her in the miniseries Jesus of Nazareth (1977). She also worked with renowned filmmakers such as Werner Herzog and Marco Bellocchio.
Throughout her life, she cultivated the image of an independent, free-spirited woman, even defying protocols by attending an audience with Pope Paul VI wearing a miniskirt. Based mainly in France, she became close to political figures such as François Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac.
In the 2000s, she turned more intensely to theater, earning applause in several productions. She remained active in cinema until her final years, having appeared in the Swiss series Bulle in 2020.
In 2002, she received a lifetime achievement award at the Berlin Film Festival. On that occasion, she reflected on her path:
“Vivi mais de 150 vidas – … santa, romântica, todo tipo de mulher. Trabalhei com os diretores mais importantes. Eles me deram tudo.”
Claudia Cardinale will be remembered as one of the great stars of European and world cinema, whose presence marked generations of moviegoers.
Source and images: IMDB | Wikimedia. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
