Sophia Loren Says She Doesn’t 'Believe' She’s 87 As She Discusses Her Return To The Spotlight In New Movie 'The Life Ahead'

Dec 10, 2020

Sophia Loren is one of the most beautiful actresses that's ever graced the screen. The Italian beauty represents a different time in film history and although that period might have passed, she's still going strong and even has a new movie out at the age of 87. In a recent interview with AARP, she discussed her return to the spotlight among a number of other topics.  

Born as Sofia Villani Scicolone on September 20, 1934, in Clinica Regina Margherita, Rome, Italy, Sophia Loren's father was a nobleman but refused to marry her mother, leaving her and her sister to grow up poor. She said later that she only met with her father three times in her life—at the age of five, 17, and around the age of 32, while he was on his deathbed. While she forgave him for abandoning her mother, she stated that she never forgot about what happened.

As a child during World War II, a local harbor and munitions plant in Loren's hometown was frequently attacked in raids by the Allied forces. During one attack, six-year-old Loren was hit in the chin by a piece of shrapnel, as she was running to shelter. She still bears the scar to this day. In the interview with AARP, she said:

“When I was a child growing up during the war, my mind was always in the sky—I wanted to be an actress like Rita Hayworth! But I needed help.” 

It was at the age of 15 when hints of Loren's future bombshell status first came to light. Upon entering the 1950 Miss Italia beauty pageant, she was chosen as one of four to represent her state. Although she missed out on the grand Miss Italia title, she did receive the title of "Miss Elegance 1950." Her future husband, Italian movie director Carlo Ponti was one of the judges. Decades later she returned on two occasions to judge the competition and crown the winner.

After making it on the American Film Institute's list of the 50 greatest movie stars—she's in 21st place, while Rita Hayworth is 19th—Loren feels validation for what she once only dreamed of, stating, "Now I am an actress, like Rita Hayworth, and it's beautiful. It's a dream."

In the interview with AARP, 87-year-old Loren shared her six life lessons. Firstly, she acts as her own cheerleader, boosting her own morale when she looks in the mirror. And it's not about looks but rather what's on the inside. She said:

"When I look in the mirror, I cheer for myself. I don't ask, ‘Are you great?’ or ‘Are you beautiful?’ No! It's how I feel inside, how secure I am, how happy I am. That's what matters."

Next up is staying in touch with family. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, Loren makes sure to call her two sons and speak with them and her grandkids regularly, as they don't live in the same place.

Thirdly, she savors the little things in life—including chocolate! Another important lesson is to refrain from thinking negative thoughts. She explains:

"If you are healthy and doing something you enjoy, then you cannot think, ‘God, tomorrow I'm going to die!’ No! You can do many wonderful things. I work, read, watch movies, go to church. And I breathe a lot.”

Another lesson is to let yourself age naturally. Loren said in the interview:

"Why change your body and be somebody else if you are happy inside? I never thought of that—never. I like what I have. I like me!"

Her last tip isn't always the easiest but is necessary—it's to accept things that happen in life. She said:

"I was very sad when my husband died, because you can never get over this kind of feeling. Never. Each time you think about it, there's a moment of the loneliness, which is very strong, but that's life."

Loren has clearly listened to her own advice, as she's still going strong and even working at the age of 87. In her latest movie, The Life Ahead, she plays a Holocaust survivor who befriends and forms a bond with a 12-year-old Nigerian immigrant. Her son Edoardo Ponti even directed the movie. She said in the AARP interview:

"I like to work very much and when you fall in love with a story, it's kind of magic and it happened to me and my son as we soon as we were making this film. What happens between the young, troubled boy and the woman I play is beautiful. These are the kinds of miracles that we need today."

Loren has shown that she is much more than just a beautiful woman, that she has a deep and profound understanding of what life is about. Yet despite her nearly nine decades on Earth, she admits to not quite feeling her age, stating:

"Sometimes when I say I'm 87, I don't believe it. I feel 20!”

Ever the elegant movie star and now life coach, we should all take a page out of Sophia Loren's book.

Do you agree with Sophia Loren's six life lessons? Do you have any other tips you would add? Let us know in the comments, then be sure to pass this on to those you know!