Claudia Cardinale is Italy’s counterpart to France’s Brigitte Bardot. She quickly rose to stardom to almost just as quickly disappear from the scene later on. Now, Claudia Cardinale celebrates her 85th birthday.
The Italian star was originally discovered at a beauty contest held in 1957 by the Unitalia film company. The “most beautiful Italian woman of Tunis” subsequently won a trip to the Venice Film Festival that was to become a decisive turning point in her life. The sultry young woman was born on April 15, 1938, in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. Her mother was French, and her father Italian.
In 1958, Cardinale, known as CC, played her first role in “Goha” opposite Omar Sharif before being trained as an actress at the Italian Film Academy in Rome. Her talents as an actress renowned for her dauntless rambunctiousness gained her fame, and her gaze into the camera became legendary.
Famous director Luchino Visconti gave her minor roles in “Rocco and his Brothers” (1960), as well as in the historical drama “The Leopard” (1962) with Alain Delon. As she later recounted in a biographical interview, she rebuffed all of her famous film partners, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Marcello Mastroianni, Alain Delon and Burt Lancaster.
A beauty queen turned into a film diva
Cardinale is Italy’s counterpart of Brigitte Bardot. But in contrast to Bardot, Cardinale never appeared nude in a film: “I always thought it was more erotic to leave some room to imagination, hinting at things rather than showing everything,” she told the German magazine Stern in 2014.
CC achieved her breakthrough with her performance in the highly popular Italo western “Once Upon a Time in the West” (1969). The classical western directed by Sergio Leone and starring Henry Fonda and Charles Bronson was shot in Rome’s Cinecittà studios and in Spain with some scenes set in Utah’s Monument Valley. The film that flopped in the US only acquired cult status in Europe.
CC’s career already saw a downswing in the 1970s. She then turned to television films, especially entertainment films where she showed some talent as a comedian. She got her last main role in a movie in 1971 when she starred opposite her main rival, Brigitte Bardot, in the Italo western comedy “Frenchie King.”
Spending time in a jungle with Werner Herzog
Ten years later, CC starred in German director Werner Herzog’s historical film “Fitzcarraldo” (1981). Although Claudia Cardinale had a difficult time enduring the bouts of anger of her eccentric film partner Klaus Kinski, she greatly enjoyed shooting and working with director Werner Herzog: “Being in the middle of the jungle with insects all around me and nothing to eat was one of my most wonderful adventures,” she later stated.
Claudia Cardinale and other heroines of European film
Claudia Cardinale is seen as Italy’s counterpart to France’s Brigitte Bardot. The actress who became a star in the 1950s and 60s now celebrates her 85th birthday.
Claudia Cardinale
She’s the youngest of Italy’s three major female stars. Claudia Cardinale worked with outstanding directors like Luchino Visconti and Federico Fellini. She fascinated audiences with her charming smile and acting skills in westerns, among them “Once Upon a Time in the West” and “The Professionals” (pictured).
Gina Lollobrigida
One of the most highly acclaimed European stars of the 1950s and 60s was Gina Lollobrigida who was born in the East of Rome in 1927. “Lollo” even made it to Hollywood where she was equally showered with praise. In the 1970s, however, she withdrew from showbiz.
Sophia Loren
Another Italian actress, Sophia Loren, who was a few years younger than Lollo, became her fiercest rival. The mutual hatred and jealousy of the two stars was a frequent topic in tabloids. In contrast to Lollobrigida, Sophia Loren continued to perform in movies even as an older woman.
Brigitte Bardot
During the same time, another sexpot rose to stardom in France with movies like “And God Created Woman” and “Love is my Profession.” Brigitte Bardot, the superstar of the Grande Nation, withdrew from film production in the 1970s to devote herself to animal rights causes.
Catherine Deneuve
A decade later, Bardot’s compatriot Catherine Deneuve broke onto the film scene. Deneuve differed much from both Loren and Lollo by playing roles as aloof and myterious women early in her career. Deneueve’s talent as an actress guaranteed her success throughout her life.
Romy Schneider
The two decades between 1960 and 1980 were also the golden era of German-French actress Romy Schneider. Born in Vienna, she made her breakthrough in the German-speaking world as “Sissi” before moving to France. In Paris, she became one of the most charismatic and impressive actresses of European film scene. But in her private life, she was anything but lucky. She died in 1982.
Penélope Cruz
One of the most famous Europen actresses in recent decades is Spanish actress Penélope Cruz. Cruz started her career in her home country before achieving fame in other European countries and, finally, Hollywood. Her performances received a lot of acclaim, especially in films by director Pedro Almodóvar, among them “Volver” (pictured).
Irene Papas
After 1945, actresses from smaller European nations were able to conquer the hearts of audiences across Europe. One of them was Irene Papas who is also renowned as a singer in her home country, Greece. She celebrated her biggest success in “Zorba the Greek” (1964) before also working in other European countries, and in Hollywood.
Tatjana Samoilova
While films from Italy, France, Germany and England dominated the film scene during the postwar era, it should not be forgotten that eastern Europe had much to offer too. One of the biggest female stars of Russian film was certainly Tatjana Samoilova who achieved world fame with the movie “The Cranes are Flying” (1957).
Krystyna Janda
Polish actress Krystyna Janda became known in the 1970s for her performances in films by Polish director Andrzej Wajda. She then performed in international co-productions with stars like Lino Ventura. In her home country, Krystyna Janda is also known as a singer and an an author.
In 1993, CC received a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement at the Venice Film Festival to be followed in 2002 by an “honorary bear” at the Berlinale. The spirited actress performed in more than 100 films.
In 2017, CC once again drew attention at an international film festival. A photo depicting her as a young actress embellished a placard in Cannes where she had often been invited as an honorary guest. On April 15, Claudia Cardinale will turn 80. Happy birthday!
This article was originally published April 15, 2018 and updated.
My Daughter Dropped Out of College for a Boyfriend My Age – Until He Showed Up at My Door with Chilling Secrets.
I always believed I had created a solid, independent life for myself and my daughter, Megan. I’d worked hard for years to establish a good job, a comfortable home by the sea, and raise her on my own. In quiet moments, I felt a lack of companionship or someone to share life’s burdens with.
That night, I had planned a special supper only for Megan and me. I prepared the table, lit the candles, and waited with optimism in my heart. I never expected what came next.
— “Mom, this is Grayson,” Megan said, walking in with a man who looked even older than me.
— “Nice to meet you, Erica,” he said confidently, offering me his hand.
— “Likewise,” I replied, trying to hide my discomfort. Megan hadn’t mentioned bringing a guest—let alone someone that age.
We sat down, but the atmosphere grew heavy.
When I asked Grayson what he did, he replied coolly, “Finance. Investments.” And when I asked Megan about college, she dropped a bomb:
— “Maybe college isn’t for everyone.”
I tried to stay calm, reminding her how hard we had worked to get her there. But she seemed spellbound by this man. She told me she felt free with him, like she could finally breathe.
I warned her that if she dropped out of college, she couldn’t count on my financial support. She didn’t hesitate:
— “That’s fine. I have Grayson’s money now.”
And that’s when things truly unraveled.
That same night, as we sat in uncomfortable silence, a loud knock echoed through the house. Megan opened the door… and there stood a young woman, red-eyed and visibly upset.
— “YOU!” she shouted at Grayson. “You told me I was the only one!”
Grayson froze.
Rachel confessed to putting a in his car after he continued to avoid her. Megan was stunned. She didn’t need any other proof. She pulled him to the door and shouted:
— “Get out.” Right now. “I do not want to see you again.”
Grayson stumbled out. But when he went onto the road, a car came around the corner and hit him. The horrible noise of the hit silenced everything.
At the hospital, they informed us that he would be unable to travel for some time.
The town’s only hotel was closed due to renovations. And as much as I wanted to turn him away, I couldn’t abandon him on the street. I grudgingly allowed him to stay.
In the days that followed, something unexpected occurred. I began to see a different side of him. We spent the evenings playing chess and talking for hours. He explained that he had lost his wife when they were young and had never recovered. He stated that younger women were only distractions; he felt lonely and lost.
I progressively fell in love.
When Grayson recovered, he gently proposed that we go see Megan together and talk to her. We found her in a small cafe. She was chilly at first, but she listened.
— “I’m not here to act like a father,” Grayson informed her. “I am here because I care. You deserve to be able to make your own decisions about your future, free of pressure from me or your mother.”
Megan rolled her eyes, but something moved. She ultimately stated:
— “Fine. “I will think about it.”
A few days later, she called me.
— “Mom… maybe you were right. I don’t have access to Grayson’s card anymore. The guys I’ve met don’t take me seriously. I miss my old life, my friends… the university.”
She paused, then added:
— “I’m sorry. I want to go back to school. This time, I mean it.”
Hearing those words, I felt like I had my daughter back. Grayson squeezed my hand and said softly:
— “I love you. We’ll face whatever comes—together.”
And just like that, calm descended upon me. For the first time in a long time, I felt prepared to let go of control and believe in what lied ahead. We sat together, watching the waves crash on the coast. We knew life would bring storms, but we weren’t alone.
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