Sophia Loren
Although born Sofia Villani Scicolone in Pozzuoli, Campania (Italy), September 20, 1934, Sophia Loren grew up in a poor suburb of Naples, social aspect that did not stop in time become one of the most elegant and glamorous stars of world cinema from the 50 and 60.
Sophia was the daughter of Romilda Villani maiden, who had been abandoned by her lover Riccardo Scicolone. When the young Villani Scicolone grew and became a statuesque physique adolescents found that could get her out of poverty which was sunk with her mother.
Won several beauty contests which he used to work as a model and then entered the film world when one of these events managed to call the attention of a juror, the producer Carlo Ponti. She was 17 and he 39.
Before had appeared as an extra in movies like “Il Voto” (1950) or “Cuori sul mari” (1950), as well as helper in the famous blockbuster directed by Mervyn LeRoy “Quo Vadis” (1951).
With the arrival in his life Ponti, Sophia reached higher positions (though in very brief roles) in the credits with “Ana” (1951), a film that had the absolute role of Silvana Mangano in “La Favorita” (1952 ) first film in which adopted the stage name Loren.
Sophia’s fame took hold in Italy with titles like “Aida” (1953), “Nights of Cleopatra” (1954), “Man or devil” (1954), a movie about Attila in which the still little known Loren shared the stage with Anthony Quinn and “The Gold of Naples (1954) from director Vittorio De Sica. Later on other internationally successful films like “The Girl in the River” (1955) by Mario Soldati, “The thief, his father and the driver” (1955) and “Luck be a woman” (1956), these latter two Alessandro Blasetti Sophia Loren made a face of great renown in the international film scene.
His early work in American films to be produced in the late 50′s.
“Boy on a Dolphin” (1957) by Jean Negulesco with Alan Ladd and “Pride and Passion” (1957) a film shot in Spain by Stanley Kramer, who had two illustrious male escorts: Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra.
Grant went mad on the curves of Sofia, but it rejected him because of his faithfulness to Ponti would become great friends after this meeting.
That same year, Ponti marry in Mexico, causing a minor scandal because the Italian producer was already married and had not yet obtained a divorce.
To avoid conflict marriage annulled in 1962, when they legally had the way open for the wedding remarried in a much more peaceful in 1966.
“Legend of the Lost” (1957) by Henry Hathaway, “Bread, Love y. ..” (1957) by Dino Risi (sequel to the hit “Bread, Love and Dreams”), “Desire Under the Elms” (1958) by Delbert Mann, “Cindy” (1958) by Melville Shavelson, “The Key” (1958) Carol Reed, “Black Orchid” (1959) by Martin Ritt and “That Kind of Woman” (1959) directed by Sidney Lumet films were supposed consecration as actress Sophia alongside partners as diverse as John Wayne, Anthony Perkins William Holden and George Sanders.
The 60 was the best time to Sophia Loren, to get the Oscar for best actress for her role in “Two Women” (1961) by Vittorio De Sica and established as a popular singer with films like “Capri” (1960) “El Cid” (1961), “The Fall of the Roman Empire” (1964), “Arabesque” (1966) or “A Countess from Hong-Kong” (1967).
Neither left the shooting of films and appeared in Italian and “Boccaccio 70″ (1962), “Marriage Italian” (1964) or “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” (1964), establishing a great partnership with actor Marcello Mastroianni and Director Vittorio de Sica.
Despite its undeniable sex appeal and talent interpetativo Sophia Loren never had a blockbuster movie on American soil which caused his permanent return to the movies in the 70 trans.
So he combined his native land titles as “Sunflowers” (1970) by Vittorio De Sica, “Women of cure” (1971) by Dino Risi, “Mortadella” (1971) by Mario Monicelli, “The Journey” (1973) again with De Sica, “Bianco, Rosso E. ..” (1973) by Alberto Lattuada and “A Special Day” (1977) by Ettore Scola, with other foreign style “Man of La Mancha” (1972) by Arthur Hiller, “The Cassandra Crossing” (1977) by George Pan Cosmatos or “Angela” (1977) by Boris Sagal television work as well as a new, loose version of “Brief Encounter” (1974).
From the 80 Sophia Loren’s career was declining productivity of the film disappearing and returning at long intervals only in specific cases (“Pret a porter” or “Grumpier Old Men”).
His other activities included the world of television, cosmetics and advertising.
He also had problems with Italian tax authorities because of which he spent two weeks in prison.
As for her love life stable by Carlo Ponti and when asked about adultery, just merely answered: “It’s a fun game which I did not.”
Received an honorary Oscar Academy Award in 1991.
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Additional details in: Sophia Loren in IMDB
Sophia Loren in Wikipedia
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