Today, Italian and French cinema is not going through its best years, but in the middle of the twentieth century. these countries reigned in the cinema world. Among the most famous actresses of that period in Europe is Claudia Cardinale. This Italian beauty easily drove crazy men from different countries and at the same time she was able to remain mysterious. Let's find out about her biography, personal life, as well as the most famous film works.
The early years of the actress
The future movie star Claudia Cardinale was born on April 15, 1939 (according to other sources, in 1938). Her parents were ordinary people. My father is a descendant of Sicilian businessmen, forced to work as a railwayman in Tunisia, and his mother is a housewife of the shipbuilding family.
Claudia was the eldest among 4 children of the Cardinale family, which is why from a young age she used to take care of her younger brothers and sister Blanche. This required harsh discipline, which in the future helped Claudia to keep fit and cope with the many loads of the acting profession.
Due to the Italian origin of the girl at school, many children teased her with the "fascist" (in Italy at that time it was this regime that ruled) and even tried several times to beat. However, despite modesty, young Claudia always found the strength to repulse offenders.
By the age of 15, the girl turned into a real beauty, on which not only frivolous immature guys, but serious adult men fixed their eyes. At the same time, the future actress did not encourage such an attitude. She dressed strictly, did not use makeup and prevented any attempts to care for her. The thing is that after school, the girl dreamed of becoming a teacher and going with a charity mission to abandoned African villages.
At the same time, Claudia was completely inconsistent with such a profession. She had a cheerful disposition and loved to watch a movie. Her favorite artists were Marlon Brando and Bridget Bardot. At that time, the girl could not even think that she was to meet each of them personally.
Victory in a beauty contest
However, the dreams of the young Italian beauty from Tunisia about the career of a teacher were not destined to come true. Everything changed the case. In 1953, a documentary was shot in Tunisia about this city, and Claudia accidentally came into the view of the camera. Her beauty and photogenicity attracted the attention of directors, and the girl was invited to become a fashion model at a fashion show.
Despite the parental ban, Cardinal agreed, and soon the photos from this show were placed in a famous fashion publishing house. Thus, she attracted the attention of director Jacques Baratier. He offered the beauty the main role in the new film, which was shot in Tunisia.
However, on trials, the inexperience of young Claudia and her obstinate temper led to the fact that the role went to another.
A couple of years later, in 1957, the contest "The Most Beautiful Italian" was held in Tunisia. But the future actress participated in it only in the role of attendants. To earn some money, she and her sister dressed up in national costumes and sold lottery tickets, and also danced in the corps de ballet.
During one of the issues, Claudia liked the jury and was transferred from the staff to the project participants. As a result, she won the competition and went to Venice Film Festival as a prize.
First steps in film career
The appearance at the Venice Festival was a turning point in the biography of Claudia Cardinal. Here her beauty was noticed by many directors, and the girl began to be offered to act in films. However, remembering her first unsuccessful film experience, Claudia decided that she needed to learn. She moved to Rome and began attending acting classes at the Chinechita studio.
The irony is that when she was admitted, the girl was so nervous that she failed. At the same time, her photogenicity and beauty forced the admissions committee to have mercy and still enroll Cardinal in courses.
Soon, the beauty was noticed by producer Franco Cristaldi. His film company Vides signed a seven-year contract with Claudia to play secondary roles. After its expiration, another one was concluded - for a period of 10 years.
The terms of both agreements were truly enslaving. Kristaldi controlled everything: from weight and hairstyle to personal life and even outlook on life. However, it was his merit that the pretty girl from Tunisia became a world celebrity, overshadowing many other famous Italian actresses. The actress collaborated with Franco Cristaldi until 1975.
Thanks to the producer, Claudia’s first role in the film “Attackers, as always, remained unknown” glorified her and opened up gorgeous prospects.
In future years, actress Claudia Cardinale starred in such films as “Cursed Confusion”, “Impudent raid of unknown intruders”, “Rocco and his brothers”, “Cartouche”, etc.
Her partners are the most beautiful and talented men in France and Italy: Marcello Mastroianni, Alain Delon, Jean Rochefort, Jean-Paul Belmondo and others. It is worth noting that after each work of the actress with famous men, rumors appeared in society about their romance with Claudia. However, the actress herself denied most of them. It is known that later they had long-term friendship with Delon, and with Belmondo, perhaps, Claudia had a short-term romance.
Unfortunately, despite the popularity, many directors continued to perceive the girl as just a beautiful face on the screen. Therefore, the role of the girl with a suitcase in Valerio Dzurlini’s picture became the most significant for her during this period. She happened to play the slutty Aida. In this image, the actress managed to prove her mastery of reincarnation, and she began to be offered more serious roles.
Leopard and Eight and a Half
The film “Leopard” was a real breakthrough for the Cardinal. On the set of this project, she again worked with Alain Delon. Young people played the role of lovers. Moreover, the actress managed to replay her partner and create on the screen the image of a captivating predator, which, despite her rudeness and vulgarity, caused real admiration.
It is worth noting that when working on the film "Leopard" Claudia spoke very poorly in Italian. Therefore, she memorized her cues as a tongue twister, which did not prevent the actress from playing perfectly. This despite the fact that it was very hot on the set, and the girl was dressed up in lush dresses with numerous skirts and ruffles.
In parallel with Leopard, Cardinal starred in the tragicomedy Federico Fellini Eight and a Half. Here Marcello Mastroianni again became her partner. The success of the tape around the world, 2 Oscars and a host of other awards allowed everyone who starred in it to become famous. The same thing happened with Claudia. Now she began to be invited to act in films not only in Europe, but also in Hollywood.
Star Factory Assault
The Italian beauty with a graceful French accent in the USA looked charming exotic, and Claudia had no end to offers to act in film. Unfortunately, the choice of roles continued to be controlled by its producer.
Since 1963, American films began to appear with Claudia Cardinale. The first of them was the comedy "Pink Panther", in which the actress played the princess Dalu.
In the future, she starred mainly in Westerns and action films. The first of these was The Missing Squad (1966). In this tape, in addition to Claudia, stars such as Alain Delon and Anthony Quinn played .
The next picture in her filmography was the most popular western of his time, "Professionals." In it, the girl played the abducted beauty Maria Gran, who was saved by four brave cowboys. In this tape, Claudia again starred with Bert Lancaster, who was her partner in Leopard.
In 1967, the United States released the romantic film “Don't Drive the Wave”, in which the heroine Cardinal played a movie novel with the character of the famous American heartthrob Tony Curtis.
The next in a series of films with Claudia Cardinal is the Italian-American Western Once Upon a Time in the Wild West. In this picture, the actress played the role of the widow of a farmer, Jill McBain, who, by chance, appears in the center of the struggle for land. Together with her, Henry Fonda and Charles Bronson starred .
Red Tent
After several years of work in Hollywood, Claudia leaves there. There are different versions of why the actress refused such a successful career. Some said that she was too lazy to learn English, others that Franco Cristaldi was afraid that the Americans would lure his main star, and therefore took her back to Europe. Still others believe that in the USA in the mid-60s there were plenty of their own stars for every taste, so they didn’t really need a Cardinal.
Whatever version is true, after several works in Hollywood, Claudia comes to star in the USSR. Here she participates in the film "Red Tent" (a joint project of the USSR, Great Britain and Italy). The tape tells about the unsuccessful Arctic expedition of Umberto Nobile. Claudia plays in her the role of the beloved Malmgren - the nurse Valeria.
According to the plot, most of the actress's scenes are wallowing in the snow with a brave geophysicist. Filming took place on the street at a real 30-degree frost. For Claudia, who actually grew up in Africa, such weather conditions were extremely unusual. So that it does not stiffen, it was rubbed with vodka and even allowed to warm up with this “elixir” from the inside. As a result, the actress did an excellent job. But her shooting partner, Eduard Martsevich, broke his leg.
In the film "Red Tent", the actress also happened to play in the same scenes with the cult cult singer of the role of James Bond - Sean Connery.
Other famous roles
After the "Red Tent", the actress returns to star in her homeland. Moreover, most of her works of this period are international joint projects: “The Adventures of Gerard”, “Australian Girl”, “Oil Production”, etc.
When the actress turns 36 years old, her producer Kristaldi begins to unwind a new young star, and Claudia is trying to push into the background. For the actress, this becomes the last straw, and she severs all relations with him: both personal and business. Having become her own mistress, Cardinal begins to actively star in Pasquale Squitieri, who becomes her husband.
The break with Cristaldi did not particularly affect the career of Claudia Cardinal. She still remains in demand among Italian and French directors. Her most famous works in future years are The Universal Feeling of Shame (1976), Jesus of Nazareth (1977), Corleone (1978), The Inevitable Victim (1978), Flight to Athena (1979) , the films “The Salamander” (1981), “The Gift” (1982), the American projects “The Trail of the Pink Panther” (1982), “The Son of the Pink Panther” (1993) and “Princess Daisy” (1983), “Henry IV” (1984 ), “Man in Love” (1987), “Desert on Fire” (1997), “My Dear Enemy” (1999) and others.
The fate of the actress today
In the 80s, Claudia moved to Paris. She considers this city her third homeland, after Tunisia and Rome.
Since the 2000s, the actress began to act a little because of a respectable age. The fact is that playing the elderly heroines of Claudia is not interesting. However, sometimes she makes exceptions and appears in separate paintings: “Thread” (2009), “Father” (2011), “Roman Dating” (2015).
Cardinal also participates in photo shoots for various magazines.
In her free time, the actress participates in the work of the AIDS Relief Fund.
Personal life of Claudia Cardinale
This part of the actress's life has always been under the gun of journalists and fans. However, it so happened that until the age of 36, the actress could not fully manage her time and heart.
At the age of 17, during a wave of popularity after winning the title “The Most Beautiful Italian of Tunisia”, one of the townspeople raped Cardinal. Being brought up in severity, the girl was embarrassed to confess to her parents, and when she discovered that she was pregnant, it was too late to have an abortion.
Franco Cristaldi helped solve the current problem. He not only talked with his parents, but also helped the actress hide the pregnancy for up to 7 months, and for the remaining period sent her to London. There, Claudia gave birth to a son, Patricio.
At the same time, the same Kristaldi forced the actress to give her son to raise her mother and hide the presence of a child from society, as this would ruin the image of Cardinal. For many years, the actress was forced to pass off her son as a younger brother. Even Patricio himself found out the truth only to 8 years.
As for the relationship with Cristaldi, despite the fact that the producer was married, over time, they began to meet secretly with Cardinal.
In 1966, with the permission of the Vatican, Franco's first marriage was annulled, and he was able to legitimize relations with Claudia. The man even officially adopted Patrick. However, all this was framed in the USA and, according to Italian law, was invalid. Despite this, the couple were together until 1975, until they divorced.
The gap was initiated by the actress, as she fell in love with another - Pasquale Squitieri. In addition, Kristaldi by that time began to pay less attention to Claudia's career, using it to promote younger actresses. There were also rumors that he was spinning novels on the side.
Unlike the first marriage, the union with Squitieri was never officially formalized, and Claudia and Pasquale still live in a civil marriage, which does not prevent them from being happy.
In 1979, the actress gave birth to a daughter from a loved one, whom the director named after the actress Claudia.
Today, the children of Claudia Cardinale are already adults and independent. Patricio lives in the USA and several times a year the actress visits her with her husband. Patricio's daughter, Lucilla (ironically, she is 3 months older than Claudia Scootieri), lives with the widowed mother of the actress in Rome. The very same daughter, Claudia, lives in Paris, not far from her parents. She specializes in art history and writes books.
Entertaining facts
- The real name of this charming actress is Claude Josephine Rose Cardinale. However, due to the difficulty with pronunciation and the length of the name, the girl began to use a pseudonym.
- Claudia's height is 1.73 m.
- As for the parameters of the figure, Claudia Cardinale was almost always close to ideal. In her youth, it was 94 - 59 - 94, and by the age of forty the actress allowed herself to recover a little to 97 - 61 - 94. This is despite the fact that at this age she gave birth to her youngest daughter.
- By nature, Claudia has a low, slightly hoarse voice, characteristic of many Italians. However, according to many directors, he contrasted too much with the noble posture of the actress, therefore, before the film "Bride Bube" (1963), the heroines of Cardinal were duplicated.
- Growing up in Tunisia (at that time it was the territory of France), the girl considered French to be her native language, but she spoke Italian much worse, with a very noticeable emphasis. Only in adulthood, the actress perfected her Italian, and also learned English.
- Over the years of work in the cinema, many awards have been collected from Claudia Cardinale. The most significant of them are the Order of Merit for the Italian Republic, the Order of the Honorary French Legion, the Russian Golden Eagle Award and the Armenian Parajanov Award.