Behind the Silver Screen: Claudia Cardinale’s Revelation on How Cinema Became Her Lifeline After 60 Years

No plastic surgery, no silicon, just a natural beauty created by God.

Claudia Cardinale has been in movies for more than 60 years, and she was like a shining star on the screen.

She didn’t plan on being one of the best actors from the golden era. Instead, her journey to fame often had difficult moments.

Even though many Hollywood stars she worked with are no longer alive, Claudia Cardinale, at the age of 85, is still active. She believes that cinema saved her life.

Claudia Cardinale, a famous actress, has made a lasting impact on both Italian and international movies. She’s known for her talent, beauty, and ability to play many different kinds of characters in her long career.

People around the world admire Claudia not only for her acting skills but also for her unique Mediterranean beauty. Her charismatic presence on screen has always captured the audience’s attention.

What’s truly remarkable is that, at the age of 85, Claudia is still active in the movie industry. She’s not slowing down!

Claudia, who was born in Tunisia and grew up in a family that spoke multiple languages, originally wanted to be a teacher. But her life took a different turn when, at 18, she was discovered at an Italian film festival. Imagine this: a young woman with glossy hair and the ability to speak French was plucked from the crowd and crowned the Most Beautiful Italian Girl in Tunisia. It marked the beginning of her incredible journey in the world of cinema.

“I was helping my mom and the Italian government with a film festival in Tunisia. I was watching the girls on stage, not expecting to be part of it. Suddenly, someone pushed me onto the stage, and they named me the Most Beautiful Girl in Tunisia,” she shared.

Her prize was a trip to the Venice film festival, and this became a turning point for the young woman. After that, many producers wanted to work with her.

At first, she said no to the offers. In an interview, Claudia Cardinale explained it like this: “It’s like when a guy is interested in you. If you say yes right away, he might lose interest quickly. But if you say no, he might be interested for a long time.”

She turned down many job offers because she was pregnant. However, there was one producer she couldn’t say no to. His name was Franco Cristaldi, a big Italian movie producer known for his work from the 1950s to the 1990s. He caught the attention of young Claudia Cardinale and signed her to an 18-year contract.

But it wasn’t just a work contract; they also got married. Franco, aiming to make her an Italian version of Brigitte Bardot, took control of her life. He decided what movies she would be in, how her hair should look, how much she should weigh, and even how she should spend her time.

When Claudia became pregnant, Franco insisted that they keep it a secret.

To cover up her pregnancy, they told everyone that her son was actually her younger brother.

While Franco Cristaldi was guiding her career, Claudia had some small roles in Italian movies. People started noticing her talent, and she became known as “Italy’s sweetheart.”

In 1958, she got a big opportunity with a main role in a romantic comedy called “Three Strangers in Rome.” Even while seven months pregnant, which she kept a secret as directed by Cristaldi, Claudia worked on the movie. However, this was a tough time for her, and she felt really sad and even had thoughts of hurting herself. She begged her manager to end the contract.

Instead of letting Claudia end the contract, Franco Cristaldi sent her to London, far away from the media. He lied, saying she was there to learn English for an upcoming role.

In 1975, Claudia’s son Patrick was born. She said that Patrick’s father was a man who assaulted her. They kept Patrick’s true identity a secret until he was 19.

In 2017, Claudia finally revealed the painful truth to Enzo Biagi, an Italian journalist. She shared that a man she didn’t know, much older than her, forced her into a car and attacked her. It was a terrible experience, but she decided not to have an abortion. She called Patrick the “wonderful” outcome of that violence. When the man found out about her pregnancy, he came back, insisting she have an abortion. But Claudia stood strong, never considering getting rid of her child.

Talking about Cristaldi, who controlled every aspect of her life, Claudia said, “With him, I felt like an employee, someone who worked for him. I got paid monthly for the four films I made each year. I didn’t even call him by his first name, only his last name. I felt like a hostage. My parents were really angry because I wasn’t in love with him; he was the one with me. Cristaldi was a great producer, but on a personal level… let’s just say it wasn’t great.”

Even after leaving Franco Cristaldi in 1975, Claudia Cardinale’s career didn’t slow down.

Starting her acting journey in the French-Tunisian film “Goha” with Omar Sharif, Claudia quickly became known as one of Italy’s best actors. She played important roles in films like “Rocco and His Brothers” (1960). In 1963, she starred in two big films: “8½,” which won an Oscar, with Marcello Mastroianni, and “The Leopard” with Burt Lancaster. Martin Scorsese, a famous director, considers both of these films among his top 12 favorites, praising Claudia’s performance as an object of desire.

Claudia also made her mark in Hollywood. She starred with David Niven in “The Pink Panther” and appeared alongside legendary actors like John Wayne and Rita Hayworth in the 1964 film “Circus World.”

People praised Claudia Cardinale for her role as a prostitute in the U.S.-Italian film “Once Upon a Time in the West” (1968). In this movie, she starred alongside famous actors like Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, and Charles Bronson.

People loved watching Claudia, often called the Italian version of Brigitte Bardot, alongside the real Bardot—her friend and competitor—in the 1971 film “The Legend of Frenchie King.” What made Claudia different from Bardot? She explained that she never appeared naked in a film. According to her, it was more exciting to leave something to the imagination, giving hints instead of showing everything.

Claudia Cardinale received praise for her role as a prostitute in the U.S.-Italian film “Once Upon a Time in the West” (1968), where she acted alongside famous actors like Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, and Charles Bronson.

People enjoyed seeing Claudia, often called the Italian version of Brigitte Bardot, alongside the real Bardot—her friend and competitor—in the 1971 film “The Legend of Frenchie King.” What made Claudia different from Bardot? She explained that she never appeared naked in a film. According to her, it was more exciting to leave something to the imagination, giving hints instead of showing everything.

Working in Hollywood brought both success and stress. In a Life article that called her “the most admired international film star since Sophia Loren,” Claudia revealed that she wanted to leave the male-dominated Hollywood system. Even if it meant earning less in Europe, she was okay with it. She said, “If I have to give up the money, I give it up. I do not want to become a cliché.”

Even though her career slowed down, Claudia expressed happiness about stepping away from the overly sexualized spotlight.

“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,” shared Claudia Cardinale.

Claudia married Italian director Pasquale Squitieri in 1975 and stayed with him until he passed away in 2017. They have one daughter, also named Claudia. In 2022, there were rumors about Claudia being involuntarily hospitalized. Living in France, she clarified, saying, “I’m next to my family, I’m in full health. And I wish everyone a happy summer.”

Today, Claudia is deeply involved with UNESCO, serving as the goodwill ambassador for the Defense of Women’s Rights.

Claudia Cardinale had a remarkable life, with both tough times and successes. It’s wonderful to see her empowering other women with her story, and we hope she continues to enjoy good health. Do you have a favorite Claudia Cardinale film?