Legendary Actress Claudiaโข Cardinale Dies at 87
Rome, Italy – Claudia โCardinale, the iconic Italian actress โcelebrated for her captivating beauty and powerful performances in films like “8 ยฝ” and “The Professionals,”โข has died at the age of 87. Her death was reported by italian news agency ANSA on Monday.
Cardinale rose to prominence as Italy’s answer to Brigitte Bardot, though she forged her own distinct path to international stardom. Born in Tunisiaโข to Italian parents, she began herโ career with a small role in the 1958 โcomedy “Rufufรบ,” produced by Franco Cristaldi, who later became her husband from 1966โ to 1975.
Known for portraying passionate women, Cardinale initiallyโ had her voice dubbed in early films due to her deep voice and strong French-Italian accent. While sheโ achievedโ some success in โฃHollywood, appearing alongside Rock Hudson in “Blindfold” (1965) and Tony Curtis in “Don’tโ Make Waves” (1967), โฃsheโค prioritized European cinema.
“They wanted me to sign an exclusivity contract, andโค I refused. Because I am a European actress and I was going there to make movies,” Cardinale explained in a โ2002 interview with The Guardian. Sheโฃ considered 1966’s “The Professionals,” directed by Richard Brooks and co-starring Burt Lancaster, Jack Palance,โ Robert Ryan, and Lee Marvin, to be her best Hollywood film, calling it “really a magnificent movie.”
Throughout her prolific โcareer,Cardinale collaborated with some of Europe’s and Hollywood’s leading directors. She receivedโ a golden Lion for lifetime achievement โat the Venice Film Festival decades after her screen debut.โ In 2000, she was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for UNESCO, dedicating her efforts to theโ defenseโ of women’s rights.
Cardinale is survived by two children, one withโ Cristaldi and another with Italian director Pasquale Squitieri. โ”They gave me โคeverything,” Cardinale once said, reflecting on her life. “It is fantastic to live so manyโ lives. I have lived more than 150โค lives, totally different women.”