Claudia Cardinale, the Tunisian-born Italian star of The Leopard, 8 1/2 and Pink Panther, has died at the age of 87. She had a six-decade long career, rising to fame during the golden age of Italian cinema, and was directed by greats such as Federico Fellini and Luchino Visconti.
The actress died at Nemours in France in the company of her children, according to her agent Laurent Savry. She leaves us the legacy of a free and inspired woman both as a woman and as an artiste, Savry told AFP news agency.
Born in Tunisia to Sicilian parents in April 1938, Cardinale won a beauty contest at 16 that saw her declared the most beautiful Italian woman in Tunis. The prize was a trip to the Venice film festival, where she was approached by directors and producers to become involved in filmmaking.
She later described her reluctance to abandon her hopes of becoming a teacher to give this cinema thing a go, in her father's words. Her early career was marked by challenges, including a traumatic incident that led to her needing to keep her pregnancy a secret until she was ready to start her film career.
Cardinale shot to fame in 1963 when she appeared in Fellini's Oscar-winning 8 1/2 and the epic period drama The Leopard, which became a Visconti classic. Her dynamic roles in Hollywood during the 1960s further established her as an international star.
Critics praised her as the embodiment of postwar European glamour and lauded her performances across various genres. In her later years, she remained active in the film industry and was recognized for her advocacy for women's rights, being named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 2000.
Italy's Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli described her as one of the greatest Italian actresses of all time, embodying Italian grace. Claudia Cardinale's impact on cinema and culture remains profound, and her legacy will be cherished by generations to come.
The actress died at Nemours in France in the company of her children, according to her agent Laurent Savry. She leaves us the legacy of a free and inspired woman both as a woman and as an artiste, Savry told AFP news agency.
Born in Tunisia to Sicilian parents in April 1938, Cardinale won a beauty contest at 16 that saw her declared the most beautiful Italian woman in Tunis. The prize was a trip to the Venice film festival, where she was approached by directors and producers to become involved in filmmaking.
She later described her reluctance to abandon her hopes of becoming a teacher to give this cinema thing a go, in her father's words. Her early career was marked by challenges, including a traumatic incident that led to her needing to keep her pregnancy a secret until she was ready to start her film career.
Cardinale shot to fame in 1963 when she appeared in Fellini's Oscar-winning 8 1/2 and the epic period drama The Leopard, which became a Visconti classic. Her dynamic roles in Hollywood during the 1960s further established her as an international star.
Critics praised her as the embodiment of postwar European glamour and lauded her performances across various genres. In her later years, she remained active in the film industry and was recognized for her advocacy for women's rights, being named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 2000.
Italy's Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli described her as one of the greatest Italian actresses of all time, embodying Italian grace. Claudia Cardinale's impact on cinema and culture remains profound, and her legacy will be cherished by generations to come.
