At 86, This Bombshell Actress Was Once The 'Most Beautiful' Girl Before She Felt Like A 'Hostage'

Aug 19, 2024 by apost team

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Claudia Cardinale is a remarkable actress who has left a lasting impact. As one of the world's iconic actresses, the Italian actress has continued to captivate audiences worldwide. 

Cardinale has gained a lot of fame while working in the movie industry for over six decades. She is well known for her attractiveness, which always captures the heart of viewers on screen. Despite being 86, the Mediterranean beauty has maintained her beauty, granting her the title of timeless beauty. She has also continued to go strong in the film business and is still regarded as one of the world's most beautiful women. 

Cardinale was born on April 15, 1938, in La Goulette, Tunisia, and her acting career did not start until she won the "Most Beautiful Italian Girl in Tunisia" in 1957. Per ArmNews365, Cardinale was only 18 then and shared that she was only helping her mother organize an Italian film festival in Tunisia. She recalled:

"I was staring at the females on stage when I realized I wasn't meant to be there. Someone pushed me out on stage, and I was named Tunisia's Most Beautiful Girl." 

After winning the award, which was a trip to the Venice Film Festival, Cardinale got a lot of proposals from producers. Although she turned down most, she signed an 18-year contract with Franco Cristaldi. She got her big break in 1958 in "Goha." She later went on to star in several films like "Lost Command," "Cartouche," "The Pink Panther," "A Girl in Australia," "Blindfold," and many more. 

Cardinale was a muse to legendary directors such as Werner Herzog, Federico Fellini, and Sergio Leone for over six decades. However, when she started her career as a teenager, her voice, deemed too husky, was often dubbed. Cardinale grew up in Tunisia, then a French protectorate. Her strong French accent was a distraction when she tried to speak Italian. The world finally heard her distinctive husky voice when she starred in the 1963 Oscar-winning masterpiece, "8 1/2". 

Cardinale later became an international sex symbol, as seen in films like "Big Deal on Madonna Street" (1958). Under the guidance of Visconti, she later transformed into a serious actress and started in "Rocco and His Brothers" (1960), "The Leopards" (1963), "Sandra" (1965), "Conversation Piece" (1974), and many others. 

Despite having a successful career, Cardinale's personal life had its share of hardships. The actress initially wanted to be a teacher, but after winning Most Beautiful Girl in Tunisia, she went into acting. Just as her career was starting, she realized she was pregnant with someone who did not want anything to do with the child. 

According to The Los Angeles Times, Cardinale explained the story behind her teenage pregnancy. She shared with Enzo Biagi in 2017, "A man I didn't know, much older than me, forced me to go up to the car and raped me." "When that man found out I was pregnant, he came back and demanded that I have an abortion," she added.

Fortunately, she gave birth to her son, Patrick, but told people he was her brother until he was 19. 

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Cardinale's producer, Cristaldi, who later married her in 1966, sent her to London to hide the pregnancy. He seized complete control of her life, career, and money; however, they got a divorce in 1957.

Cardinale suffered in the hands of Cristaldi, where she "practically" felt like an "employee" and a "subordinate." She also disclosed that she felt like a "hostage," which greatly upset her parents. Although she considered Cristaldi a "great producer," she said he's better off "overlooked" on a private level. 

In 1971, Cardinale was called the Italian Brigitte Bardot. However, she was different from the actual Brigitte Bardot because she would never go nude in films. She added:

"I always thought it was more erotic to leave some room for imagination, hinting at things rather than showing everything."

For Cardinale, working in Hollywood was both amazing and demanding. After working in the system for a while, she decided to leave Hollywood and chose to act mostly in European films. Cardinale liked Hollywood but was not satisfied with the system's methods of signing stars. She said, "I don't like the star system. I am a normal person. I like to live in Europe." Although there was a reduction in pay in Europe, the actress stated, "If I have to give up money, I give it up. I don't want to become a stereotype."

Cardinale later married Pasquale Squitieri, an Italian filmmaker, in 1975. 

The duo remained together, and she remained by his side until his death in 2017. The couple also welcomed one child, Claudia, who is as beautiful as her mother.

Unbeknownst to many, Cardinale initially wanted to be a teacher, not a film actress. 

"I was helping my mother and people from the Italian government organize an Italian film festival in Tunisia. I was looking at the girls on the stage and I wasn't supposed to be there. Someone pushed me out on the stage and I was named the Most Beautiful Girl in Tunisia," Cardinale recalled in an interview quoted Life In Italy. 

At first, she turned down offers and opportunities. 

"It's like a man," Cardinale told The Guardian. "When he's going after you, if you say yes immediately, after a little time he goes away. If you say no, he desires you for a long time."

Eventually, Cardinale took on offers and became one of "the most admired international film stars since Sophia Loren." 

Cardinale couldn't help but recall how her dream started and panned out. 

"When I was young, my dream was to explore the world. And I did it. I was never naked and I never did anything to change my face. I don't like that at all. I like to be what I am, because you cannot stop time," Cardinale added.

Despite being 86, the veteran actress's beauty has continued to flourish, leaving her with a gorgeous timeless beauty that is enviable by all. She works as a goodwill ambassador for defending women's rights with UNESCO. 

Cardinale shared that she believes in helping women achieve greater empowerment through education. 

She added, "It is with passion and dedication that I will be attentive to the needs of women and fight relentlessly for their rights."

Are you a fan of Claudia Cardinale? What can you say about her story? Isn't her story inspiring? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, and other Claudia Cardinale fans out there!