Claudia Cardinale: A Life of Resilience and Cinema

Claudia Cardinale’s six-decade career cemented her status as an icon of Italian and international cinema. Born in Tunisia, she was discovered at 18 after being crowned Most Beautiful Italian Girl in Tunisia, launching her into film. Behind her early success was personal trauma—she became pregnant after a violent assault and kept her son’s identity secret for years.

Her career was tightly controlled by producer and husband Franco Cristaldi, leading to years of depression and limited autonomy. Cardinale left him in 1975 to reclaim her freedom.

She starred in classics like Rocco and His Brothers, 8½, The Leopard, The Pink Panther, and Once Upon a Time in the West. Often compared to Brigitte Bardot, she stood apart by never appearing nude, valuing mystery and dignity.

Though critical of Hollywood, she prioritized artistic integrity over commercial fame. Married to director Pasquale Squitieri until his death in 2017, Cardinale now lives in France, remains in good health at 86, and serves as a UNESCO goodwill ambassador for women’s rights.