Italian actress Claudia Cardinale, a star of classic European cinema in the 1960s and 1970s, has passed away at age 87. AFP reported the news on Tuesday, citing her agent.
Cardinale lit up the screen in more than 100 films and TV shows. Fans remember her most for playing a symbol of youthful innocence opposite Marcello Mastroianni in Federico Fellini’s masterpiece “8½” back in 1963. That same year, she earned raves as Angelica Sedara in Luchino Visconti’s epic adaptation of the novel “The Leopard.” And who could forget her tough reformed prostitute in Sergio Leone’s iconic spaghetti western “Once Upon a Time in the West” in 1968?
She died in Nemours, France, with her children by her side, agent Laurent Savry told AFP. The Associated Press reached out for more details but hasn’t heard back yet.
Born in Tunisia to Sicilian parents who moved to North Africa, Cardinale kickstarted her film career at just 17. She won a beauty contest that landed her at the Venice Film Festival, catching the eye of Italy’s movie world. She had dreamed of becoming a schoolteacher, but showbiz had other plans.
“It’s just an accident that I’m in movies,” she once shared while picking up a lifetime achievement award at the 2002 Berlin Film Festival. Producers chased her for six months before she said yes.
Cardinale rose to fame right after Sophia Loren’s global breakthrough. People called her Italy’s answer to Brigitte Bardot. She never quite matched their superstar status, but she shone bright, teaming up with Europe’s top directors and even dipping into Hollywood.
“They gave me everything,” she said. “It’s marvelous to live so many lives. I’ve been more than 150 different women.”
Her breakout came early with a role as a mourning Sicilian girl in the 1958 comedy hit “Big Deal on Madonna Street.” The film’s producer, Franco Cristaldi, guided her career and became her husband from 1966 to 1975.
With her striking brunette looks, huge expressive eyes, deep voice, and French-accented Italian, studios often dubbed her voice in those first films. Directors loved casting her as passionate, fiery characters.
Hollywood tempted her, but success there was mixed. She starred with Rock Hudson in the 1965 thriller-comedy “Blindfold” and teamed with Tony Curtis in “Don’t Make Waves” in 1967. Her favorite, though, was “The Professionals” in 1966, directed by Richard Brooks, where she acted alongside Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin, and more.
In a 2002 Guardian interview, Cardinale explained why she didn’t go all-in on Hollywood. The studios wanted an exclusive contract, but she turned it down. “I’m a European actress,” she said. “I went there just for specific movies. ‘The Professionals’ was a big chance and a magnificent film—for me, it’s my best Hollywood work.”
Over her career, honors poured in, including a Golden Lion Lifetime Achievement award at the Venice Film Festival almost 40 years after her debut.
In 2000, she became a goodwill ambassador for UNESCO, championing women’s rights.
Cardinale leaves behind two children—one with Cristaldi and another with her later partner, Italian director Pasquale Squitieri. Her films continue to captivate audiences, cementing her as a timeless icon of Italian cinema.
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