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 declared her the most beautiful Italian woman in Tunis. This opportunity took her to the Venice Film Festival, where she was approached by directors to start her career in filmmaking. Cardinale faced challenges early on, including a traumatic experience that led her to keep her pregnancy under wraps, later leading her to state that her son was the motivation behind her pursuit of a film career.
Despite facing hurdles such as having her voice dubbed due to her accent, she achieved stardom in 1963 with her roles in *Fellini's* Oscar-winning *8 1/2* and in *The Leopard*. Her time in Hollywood included iconic films such as *The Pink Panther* and *Once Upon A Time In the West*. Throughout her life, she received accolades including a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Berlin Film Festival. Cardinale's legacy will be remembered not only for her film contributions but also for her advocacy, having been named a Unesco Goodwill Ambassador in 2000 for her work in promoting women's rights. Italy's Culture Minister called her one of the greatest Italian actresses of all time, signifying her lasting impact on cinema and culture.
Born in Tunisia to Sicilian parents in April 1938, Cardinale won a beauty contest at 16 that declared her the most beautiful Italian woman in Tunis. This opportunity took her to the Venice Film Festival, where she was approached by directors to start her career in filmmaking. Cardinale faced challenges early on, including a traumatic experience that led her to keep her pregnancy under wraps, later leading her to state that her son was the motivation behind her pursuit of a film career.
Despite facing hurdles such as having her voice dubbed due to her accent, she achieved stardom in 1963 with her roles in *Fellini's* Oscar-winning *8 1/2* and in *The Leopard*. Her time in Hollywood included iconic films such as *The Pink Panther* and *Once Upon A Time In the West*. Throughout her life, she received accolades including a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Berlin Film Festival. Cardinale's legacy will be remembered not only for her film contributions but also for her advocacy, having been named a Unesco Goodwill Ambassador in 2000 for her work in promoting women's rights. Italy's Culture Minister called her one of the greatest Italian actresses of all time, signifying her lasting impact on cinema and culture.
