Sophia Loren turns 90 today: From a traumatized and poor girl, to an actress who is loved by the whole world
The Italian actress Sophia Loren, who is one of the most beautiful women in the world, celebrates her 90th birthday today. Her life, not only career, but also private, is so interesting that it can serve as inspiration for a movie, it says "Glossy".
She went through different things in her life, and some of them were remembered and retold to this day. However, in the sea of facts that are often written about, there are always those that are less known or almost completely unknown to the public.
Sophia Loren wasn't always rich. She grew up in very difficult conditions, and with her work and perseverance she managed to overcome poverty. Thanks to her acting talent, she became the first actress to win an Oscar for a performance in a language other than English, inspiring actors around the world. With her resilience, versatility and timeless beauty, she has left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, cementing her status as a beloved film legend.
Born Sofia Villani Scicolone on September 20, 1934, she grew up in Naples, Italy, during World War II. Her last name is fictional, and she chose "Lauren", inspired by the Swedish actress Marta Toren.
Because she lived in a part of Italy where there was fierce fighting during World War II, she was shot in the face as a 6-year-old child. It was only by sheer luck that she was not left with serious consequences.
At the age of 14, Lauren participated in a beauty pageant and caught the attention of film producer Carlo Ponti, who would later become her husband and mentor.
Fluent in English, Italian, French and Spanish, she has moved easily between different film industries and cultures throughout her career.
Lauren had incredible on-screen chemistry with Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni, and the duo starred together in a number of successful films, including Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (1963) and Married the Italian Way (1964).
When she won an Oscar in 1962 for the Italian war drama Cocara, she became the first actress in history to win an Oscar outside the English-speaking world, for her role as the Countess of Hongkong.