Throughout a career that has spanned more than six decades, the enigmatic Claudia Cardinale has captivated audiences with her stunning presence on screen.
Though she never intended to become one of the greatest actors of the golden age, Cardinale’s path to stardom was marked by both triumphs and traumas.
Now 86, having outlived many of the Hollywood giants she once shared the screen with, Cardinale continues to thrive, remarking that “cinema saved my life.”
Read on to discover more about this iconic starlet and what she’s up to today.
As an iconic actress, Claudia Cardinale has made an indelible impact on both Italian and international cinema. Her talent, beauty, and versatility allowed her to bring to life a wide array of complex and memorable characters throughout her illustrious career.
The Tunisian-born Italian actress was originally studying to be a teacher when, at 18, she was discovered. The glossy-haired, French-speaking young woman was swept up in the excitement of an Italian film festival when she was unexpectedly pulled from the crowd and crowned as the Most Beautiful Italian Girl in Tunisia.
“I was helping my mother and people from the Italian government organize an Italian film festival in Tunisia. I was looking at the girls on the stage and I wasn’t supposed to be there. Someone pushed me out on the stage and I was named the Most Beautiful Girl in Tunisia,” she recalled.
The prize was a trip to the Venice Film Festival—a prophetic adventure for the young woman, who soon received numerous offers from producers.
Initially turning down the offers, Cardinale explained in an interview, “It’s like a man. When he’s going after you, if you say yes immediately, after a little time he goes away. If you say no, he desires you for a long time.”
Her reason for rejecting most offers was that she was pregnant.
But there was one producer she couldn’t refuse: Franco Cristaldi, a prominent Italian filmmaker whose influence spanned from the 1950s to the 1990s. He captivated the young Cardinale and signed her to an 18-year contract.
There was also a personal contract—the pair married, and Cristaldi, who sought to mold her into an Italian Brigitte Bardot, took full control of her career, dictating everything from her movie roles and hairstyle to her weight and social life.
Cristaldi insisted that her pregnancy remain a secret.
As for her son, it was publicly announced that he was her younger brother.
Under Cristaldi’s management, Cardinale began with a few minor roles in Italian films. Her performances earned her the title “Italy’s sweetheart.”
In 1958, she landed her big break with a leading role in the romantic comedy Three Strangers in Rome. Cardinale, who was seven months pregnant at the time, continued to keep her pregnancy a secret under Cristaldi’s direction. She became depressed and even had suicidal thoughts, pleading with her manager to terminate her contract.
Instead, Cristaldi sent her to London, away from the press, falsely claiming she was there to learn English for an upcoming role.
In 1975, her baby Patrick was born—a child she revealed was fathered by an unidentified man who had raped her. Patrick’s identity as her son was kept a secret until he turned 19.
‘Violent truth’
In 2017, Cardinale opened up to Italian journalist Enzo Biagi, sharing the harrowing truth about her pregnancy. “A man I didn’t know, much older than me, forced me to go up to his car and raped me. It was terrible, but the most beautiful thing is that my wonderful Patrick was born from that violence. Despite the challenges of being a single mother, I decided not to have an abortion,” she said.
She continued, “When that man learned of my pregnancy, he came back, demanding that I have an abortion. Not even for a moment did I think of getting rid of my child!”
Reflecting on Cristaldi, who controlled her life, Cardinale said, “With him, I was practically an employee, a subordinate who was paid a monthly salary for the four films I made each year. I didn’t even call him by name, only by his surname. I felt like a hostage—my parents were furious. I wasn’t in love with him; he was the one in control. Cristaldi was a great producer, but on a personal level… it’s better not to dwell on it.”
Despite her dysfunctional relationship with Cristaldi, whom she left in 1975, her career did not slow down.
The natural beauty made her debut in the French-Tunisian film Goha with Omar Sharif and quickly earned a reputation as one of Italy’s finest actors. She then took on leading roles in Rocco and His Brothers (1960) and, in 1963, starred in the Oscar-winning film 8½ alongside Marcello Mastroianni, as well as The Leopard with Burt Lancaster. Both films, where she played seemingly unattainable objects of desire, are hailed by director Martin Scorsese as two of his top 12 favorites.
‘Italian Brigitte Bardot’
Gaining traction in Hollywood, she starred alongside David Nivens in The Pink Panther and shared the screen with legends like John Wayne and Rita Hayworth in 1964’s Circus World.
Cardinale was widely praised for her portrayal of a prostitute in the U.S.-Italian film Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), where she co-starred with icons Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, and Charles Bronson.
Audiences particularly enjoyed seeing Cardinale, dubbed the Italian Brigitte Bardot, alongside the real Bardot—her friend and rival—in 1971’s The Legend of Frenchie King. What set her apart from Bardot? Cardinale said she never appeared nude in a film. “I always thought it was more erotic to leave some room for the imagination, hinting at things rather than showing everything.”
Working in Hollywood brought both success and stress. In a Life magazine article, which called her “the most admired international film star since Sophia Loren,” Cardinale expressed her desire to break free from the patriarchal Hollywood system. Despite the lower salaries in Europe, she said, “If I have to give up the money, I give it up. I do not want to become a cliché.”
‘You cannot stop time’
Although her career eventually slowed down, Cardinale expressed contentment in stepping away from the sexualized spotlight.
“When I was young, my dream was to explore the world. And I did it. I was never naked, and I never did anything to change my face. I don’t like that at all. I like to be what I am because you cannot stop time,” Cardinale said.
Cardinale married Italian director Pasquale Squitieri in 1975 and remained with him until his death in 2017. The couple has one daughter, Claudia.
In 2022, Cardinale addressed rumors of involuntary hospitalization. Living in France, she reassured the public, saying, “I’m with my family, in full health, and I wish everyone a happy summer.”
Today, Cardinale is actively involved with UNESCO as a goodwill ambassador for the Defence of Women’s Rights.
Claudia Cardinale has led an extraordinary life filled with both hardship and success. It’s inspiring to see her continue to empower other women with her story, and we hope she remains in good health. What’s your favorite Cardinale film?