Sophia Loren (born Sofia Villani Scicolone; September 20, 1934) is an Italian actress.
In 1962, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Two Women, becoming the first actress to win an Academy Award for a non-English-speaking performance. Loren has won 50 international awards, including two Oscars, five Golden Globe Awards, a Grammy Award and a BAFTA Award; she is the second most awarded actress in cinema history beside Meryl Streep. Her other films include The Pride and the Passion (1957), Houseboat (1958), El Cid (1961), The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964), Man of La Mancha (1972), The Cassandra Crossing (1976), Prêt-à-Porter (1994), Grumpier Old Men (1995), and Nine (2009).
In 1999, Sophia Loren was listed by the American Film Institute on AFI's 100 Years... 100 Stars as one of 25 American female screen legends of all time. In 2002, she was honored by the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) at its annual Anniversary Gala and was inducted into its Italian American Hall of Fame.
Early life
Loren was born Sofia Villani Scicolone at the Clinica Regina Margherita in Rome, the daughter of Romilda Villani (1914-1991) and Riccardo Scicolone, a construction engineer.Scicolone refused to marry Villani, leaving her, a piano teacher and aspiring actress, without support. However, Loren's parents did have another child together, her sister Maria, in 1937. Romilda, Loren and Maria lived in Pozzuoli, near Naples, to live with Loren's grandmother in order to survive.
During World War II, the harbor and munitions plant in Pozzuoli was a frequent bombing target of the allies. During one raid, as Loren ran to the shelter, she was struck by shrapnel and wounded in the chin. Subsequently, the family moved to Naples and begged distant relatives to take them in.
After the war, Loren and her family returned to Pozzuoli. Grandmother Luisa opened their living room as a pub, selling homemade cherry liquor. Villani played the piano, Maria sang and Loren waited tables and washed dishes. The place was very popular with the American GIs stationed nearby.
When she was 14 years old, Loren entered a beauty contest in Naples and, while not winning, was selected as one of the finalists. Later she enrolled in acting class and was selected as an extra in Mervyn LeRoy's 1951 film, Quo Vadis, thus launching her career as a motion picture actress. She eventually changed her name to Sophia Loren.
Career
Beginnings
After being credited professionally as Sofia Lazzaro, she began using her current stage name in 1952's La Favorita. Her first starring role was in Aida (1953), for which she received critical acclaim. After playing the lead role in Two Nights with Cleopatra (1953), her breakthrough role was in The Gold of Naples (1954), directed by Vittorio De Sica. Too Bad She's Bad, also released in 1954, became the first of many films in which Loren co-starred with Marcello Mastroianni. Over the next three years she acted in many films such as Scandal in Sorrento (1955) and Lucky to Be a Woman (1956). In 1957, Loren's star had begun to rise in Hollywood, with the films Boy on a Dolphin (her U.S. film debut), Legend of the Lost with John Wayne, and The Pride and the Passion in which she starred opposite Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra.
International fame
Loren in the trailer for Five Miles to Midnight (1962)
Loren became an international film star with a five-picture contract with Paramount Pictures in 1958. Among her films at this time were Desire Under the Elms with Anthony Perkins, based upon the Eugene O'Neill play; Houseboat, a romantic comedy co-starring Cary Grant; and George Cukor's Heller in Pink Tights, in which she appeared as a blonde for the first time.
In 1961, she starred in Vittorio De Sica's Two Women, a stark, gritty story of a mother who is raped while trying to protect her daughter in war-torn Italy. Originally cast as the daughter, Loren fought against type and was re-cast as the mother (actress Eleonora Brown would portray the daughter). Loren's performance earned her many awards, including the Cannes Film Festival's best performance prize, and an Academy Award for Best Actress, the first major Academy Award for a non-English-language performance and to an Italian actress.
Loren is known for her sharp wit and insight. One of her most frequently-quoted sayings is her quip about her famously-voluptuous figure: "Everything you see, I owe to spaghetti." However, on the December 20, 2009, episode of CBS News Sunday Morning, Loren denied ever saying the line.
During the 1960s, Loren was one of the most popular actresses in the world, and she continued to make films in both the U.S. and Europe, acting with leading male stars. In 1964, her career reached its zenith when she received $1 million to act in The Fall of the Roman Empire. In 1965, she received a second Academy Award nomination for her performance in Marriage Italian-Style.
Among Loren's best-known films of this period are Samuel Bronston's epic production of El Cid (1961) with Charlton Heston, The Millionairess (1960) with Peter Sellers, It Started in Naples (1960) with Clark Gable, Vittorio De Sica's triptych Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (1963) with Marcello Mastroianni, Peter Ustinov's Lady L (1965) with Paul Newman, the 1966 classic Arabesque with Gregory Peck, and Charlie Chaplin's final film, A Countess from Hong Kong (1967) with Marlon Brando.
Loren received four Golden Globe Awards between 1964 and 1977 as "World Film Favorite - Female."
Mid-career and musical recordings
Once she became a mother, Loren worked less. Most of her acting during the next two decades was in Italian features. During the 1970s, she appeared in such films as Lady Liberty (1971) with Susan Sarandon and the musical Man of La Mancha (1972) with Peter O'Toole. She was paired with Richard Burton in the last De Sica-directed movie, The Voyage (1974), and a remake of the film Brief Encounter (1974). In 1976 she starred in The Cassandra Crossing, a disaster film featuring such veteran stars as Richard Harris, Martin Sheen, and Ava Gardner. She also co-starred with Marcello Mastroianni in Ettore Scola's A Special Day (1977), an Italian film for which she was nominated for several awards. Loren then starred in the Hollywood thrillers Brass Target (1978), set during World War II, and Firepower (1979).
In 1980, Loren portrayed herself, as well as her mother, in a made-for-television biopic adaptation of her autobiography titled Sophia Loren: Her Own Story. Actresses Ritza Brown and Chiara Ferrari played Loren at younger ages. In 1981, she became the first female celebrity to launch her own perfume, Sophia, and a brand of eyewear followed soon thereafter. She made headlines in 1982 when she served an 18-day prison sentence in Italy on tax evasion charges, a fact that didn't damage her career or popularity. She acted infrequently during the 1980s and turned down starring roles on the TV series Dynasty and Falcon Crest, preferring to devote more time to raising her sons. In 1988 she starred in the miniseries The Fortunate Pilgrim.
Loren has also recorded well over two dozen songs throughout her career, including a best-selling album of comedic songs with Peter Sellers; reportedly, she had to fend off his romantic advances. It was partly owing to Sellers' infatuation with Loren that he split with his first wife, Anne Howe. Loren has made it clear to numerous biographers that Sellers' affections were reciprocated only platonically. This collaboration was covered in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers where actress Sonia Aquino portrayed Loren. It is said that the song "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)" by Peter Sarstedt was inspired by Loren.[citation needed]
Later career
Loren in Kenya while serving as Goodwill Ambassador in 1992
In 1991, Loren received the Academy Honorary Award for her contributions to world cinema and was declared "one of the world cinema's treasures." In 1995, she received the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award. She presented Federico Fellini with his Honorary Oscar. In 2009 Loren stated on Larry King Live that Fellini had planned to direct her in a film shortly before his death in 1993.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Loren was selective about choosing her films and ventured into various areas of business, including cook books, eyewear, jewelry and perfume.
She received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in Robert Altman's film Ready to Wear (1994), co-starring Julia Roberts.
In the comedy Grumpier Old Men (1995), Loren played a femme fatale opposite Walter Matthau, Jack Lemmon, and Ann-Margret. The film was a box-office success and became Loren's biggest U.S hit in years.
In 2001, Loren received a Special Grand Prix of the Americas Award at the Montreal World Film Festival for her body of work.She filmed two projects in Canada during this time: the independent film Between Strangers (2002), directed by her son Edoardo and co-starring Mira Sorvino, and the television miniseries Lives of the Saints (2004).
In 2009, after five years off the set and fourteen years since she starred in a prominent US theatrical film, Loren starred in Rob Marshall's film version of Nine, based on the Broadway musical that tells the story of a director whose midlife crisis causes him to struggle to complete his latest film; he is forced to balance the influences of numerous formative women in his life, including his deceased mother. Loren was Marshall's first choice to portray the mother. The film also stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson, Marion Cotillard, and Nicole Kidman. As a part of the case she received her first nomination for a Screen Actors Guild Award.
As of 2010 Loren is working in Italy on a two-part television biopic of her early life titled La Mia Casa È Piena di Specchi (translated My House Is Full of Mirrors), based on of the memoir written by her sister Maria.
Personal life
Loren's primary residence has been in Geneva, Switzerland since late 2006.She also owns homes in Los Angeles and New York.
In September 1999, Loren filed a lawsuit against 76 adult websites for posting altered nude photos of her on the internet.
Loren is a huge fan of the football club S.S.C. Napoli. In May 2007, when the team was third in Serie B, she told the Gazzetta dello Sport that she would do a striptease if the team won.
Loren posed scantily-clad at 72 for the 2007 Pirelli Calendar along with such actresses as Penelope Cruz and Hilary Swank.
Marriage
Loren first met Carlo Ponti in 1950 when he judged her at a beauty contest. She was 15 years old at the time, while he was 37. They married on September 17, 1957. However, Ponti had been married once before, and had never officially divorced his estranged wife Giuliana because Italy did not recognize divorce at that time, and as a result the marriage between Loren and Ponti was annulled in 1962. In 1965, Ponti and Giuliana obtained citizenship in France where they could be legally divorced, allowing him to marry Loren on April 9, 1966.
The couple have two sons: Carlo Ponti Jr. (born December 29, 1968) and Edoardo Ponti (born January 6, 1973).
Loren remained married to Carlo Ponti until his death on January 10, 2007 of pulmonary complications.
She has two grandchildren: Lucia (born May 2006) and Vittorio (born April 2007).
Her daughters-in-law are Sasha Alexander (married to Edoardo) and Andrea Meszaros (married to Carlo).
When asked in a November 2009 interview if she is ever likely to marry again, Loren replied "No, never again. It would be impossible to love anyone else."
Filmography and Awards
Year Film Role Notes
1950 I Am the Capataz Secretary of the Dictator
Barbablu's Six Wives Girl kidnapped
Tototarzan A tarzanide
I Devote, Thee A popular to the party of piedigrotta
Hearts at Sea Extra Uncredited
1951 White Leprosy A girl in the boardinghouse
Owner of the Vapor Ballerinetta
Milan Billionaire Extra Uncredited
Magician for Force The bride
Quo Vadis Lygia's slave Uncredited
It's Him!... Yes! Yes! Odalisca
Anna Night club assistant Uncredited
1952 And Arrived the Accordatore Amica di Giulietta
I Dream of Zorro Conchita As Sofia Scicolone
The Favorite Leonora
1953 The Country of Campanelli Bonbon
Pilgrim of Love
We Find Ourselves in Arcade Marisa
Two Nights with Cleopatra Cleopatra/Nisca
Girls Marked Danger Elvira
Good Folk's Sunday Ines
Aida Aida
Africa Under the Seas Barbara Lama
1954 Neapolitan Carousel Sisina
A Day in Court Anna
The Anatomy of Love The girl
Poverty and Nobility Gemma
The Gold of Naples Sofia Segment "Pizze a Credito"
Attila Honoria
Too Bad She's Bad Lina Stroppiani
1955 The Sign of Venus Agnese Tirabassi
The Miller's Beautiful Wife Carmela
The River Girl Nives Mongolini
Scandal in Sorrento Donna Sofia
1956 Lucky to Be a Woman Antonietta Fallari
1957 Boy on a Dolphin Phaedra
The Pride and the Passion Juana
Legend of the Lost Dita
1958 Desire Under the Elms Anna Cabot
The Key Stella
The Black Orchid Rose Bianco Venice Film Festival - Volpi Cup
Houseboat Cinzia Zaccardi
1959 That Kind of Woman Kay
1960 Heller in Pink Tights Angela Rossini
It Started in Naples Lucia Curio Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture
Musical or Comedy
The Millionairess Epifania Parerga
A Breath of Scandal Princess Olympia
Two Women Cesira Academy Award for Best Actress
BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Award
David di Donatello for Best Actress
Nastro d'Argento Best Actress
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
Sant Jordi Awards Best Performance in a Foreign Film
1961 El Cid Jimena
1962 Boccaccio '70 Zoe Segment "La Riffa"
1963 Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Adelina Sbaratti/Anna Molteni/Mara David di Donatello for Best
Actress
1964 The Fall of the Roman Empire Lucilla
Marriage Italian-Style Filumena Marturano David di Donatello for Best Actress
Moscow International Film Festival Award for Best Actress
Golden Laurel Awards for Best Actress (2° Place)
Nominated - Academy Award for Best Actress
Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Nominated - Nastro d'Argento Best Actress
1965 Operation Crossbow Nora
Lady L Lady Louise Lendale/Lady L
1966 Judith Judith
Arabesque Yasmin Azir
1967 A Countess from Hong Kong Natascha
More Than a Miracle Isabella Candeloro
1968 Ghosts - Italian Style Maria Lojacono
1970 Sunflower Giovanna David di Donatello for Best Actress
Nominated - Fotogramas de Plata Best Foreign Performer
1971 Lady Liberty Maddalena Ciarrapico
The Priest's Wife Valeria Billi
1972 Man of La Mancha Aldonza/Dulcinea
1973 The Sin Hermana Germana
1974 The Voyage Adriana de Mauro David di Donatello for Best Actress
San Sebastian International Film Festival Prize San Sebastian
Verdict Teresa Leoni
Brief Encounter Anna Jesson
1975 Sex Pot Pupa
1976 The Cassandra Crossing Jennifer Rispoli Chamberlain
1977 A Special Day Antoinette David di Donatello for Best Actress
Globo d'Oro Award for Best Actress
Nastro d'Argento Best Actress
1978 Blood Feud Titina Paterno
Brass Target Mara
Angela Angela Kincaid
1979 Firepower Adele Tasca
1980 Sophia Loren: Her Own Story Sophia/Romilda Villani
1984 Aurora Aurora
1986 Courage Marianna Miraldo
1988 The Fortunate Pilgrim Lucia
1989 Running Away Cesira
1990 Saturday, Sunday and Monday Rosa Priore
1994 Prêt-à-Porter Isabella de la Fontaine National Board of Review Award for Best Cast
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
1995 Grumpier Old Men Maria Sophia Coletta Ragetti
1997 Soleil Maman Levy
2001 Francesca e Nunzieta Francesca Montorsi
2002 Between Strangers Olivia
2004 Too Much Romance... It's Time for Stuffed Peppers Maria
2005 Lives of the Saints Teresa Innocente
2009 Nine Mamma Satellite Awards Special Achievement Award Best Ensemble, Motion Picture
Nominated — Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Nominated — Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards for Best Ensemble Cast
2010 My House Is Full of Mirrors Romilda Villani
Femina Pre-production
Trivia
Loren at the 2009 Academy Awards
There is a street in the city of Etobicoke, Toronto, Ontario named for her.
Loren is referenced in the song "Italian Girls" by 80s duo Hall & Oates on the 1982 album H20. The lyrics in the bridge say "I see Sophia on the Silver Screen, there must be more like her in Rome."
In 2005, she received honorary citizenship in her hometown of Pozzuoli.
Her name is the title of a song by the famous rock band Rolling Stones.
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