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Biography
Claude Joséphine Rose "Claudia" Cardinale (15 April 1938 – 23 September 2025) was an Italian actress. Regarded as one of the leading figures of Italian cinema, alongside Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida, she achieved international recognition during a career spanning more than six decades. Celebrated in the 1960s as "the most beautiful woman in the world" and widely considered a sex symbol of the era, Cardinale appeared in more than 175 films, primarily in Italy and France, across genres including comedy, drama, spaghetti westerns, and historical epics. She collaborated with acclaimed directors such as Federico Fellini, Sergio Leone, and Werner Herzog, and several of her films are regarded as significant works in the history of cinema. At the time of her death, she was one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of European cinema. Born and raised in La Goulette, a municipality in Tunisia near Tunis, Cardinale won the "Most Beautiful Italian Girl in Tunisia" competition in 1957, the prize being a trip to Italy, which quickly led to film contracts, due above all to the involvement of producer Franco Cristaldi, who acted as her mentor for a number of years and later married her. After making her debut in a minor role with Egyptian star Omar Sharif in Goha (1958), Cardinale became one of the best-known actresses in Italy, with roles in films such as Rocco and His Brothers (1960), Girl with a Suitcase (1961), Cartouche (1962), The Leopard (1963) and Federico Fellini's 8½ (1963). From 1963, Cardinale appeared in The Pink Panther opposite David Niven. She went on to appear in the Hollywood films Blindfold (1966), Lost Command (1966), The Professionals (1966), Don't Make Waves (1967) with Tony Curtis, The Hell with Heroes (1968), The Red Tent (1969), A Fine Pair (1968), The Salamander (1981), and the Sergio Leone Western Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), a joint U.S.–Italian production, in which she was praised for her role as a former prostitute opposite Jason Robards, Charles Bronson and Henry Fonda. Jaded with Hollywood and not wanting to become a cliché, Cardinale returned to Italian and French cinema and garnered the David di Donatello for Best Actress award for her roles in The Day of the Owl (1968) and as a prostitute alongside Alberto Sordi in A Girl in Australia (1971).[1] In 1974, Cardinale met director Pasquale Squitieri, who would become her partner. She frequently featured in his films, including Blood Brothers (1974), Father of the Godfathers (1978) and Claretta (1984), the last of which won her the Nastro d'Argento Award for Best Actress. In 1982, she starred in Werner Herzog's Fitzcarraldo as the love interest of Klaus Kinski, who raises the funds to buy a steamship in Peru. In 2010, Cardinale received the Best Actress Award at the 47th Antalya "Golden Orange" International Film Festival for her performance as an elderly Italian woman who takes in a young Turkish exchange student in Signora Enrica. Over the years, Cardinale was outspoken about women's rights and became a UNESCO goodwill ambassador for the Defence of Women's Rights beginning in March 2000. In February 2011, the Los Angeles Times Magazine named Cardinale among the 50 most beautiful women in film history. ... Description above from the Wikipedia article Claudia Cardinale, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Filmography
The Life of Mirrors
2025Movie
Claudia la mystérieuse
Self
2022Movie
The Island of Forgiveness
Agostina
2022Movie
Fellinopolis
Self - Actress (archive footage)
2021Movie
We Are Cinema
Self (archive footage)
2021Movie
Morceaux de Cannes
2021Movie
Rogue City
Catarina Bastiani
2020Movie
Nana Mouskouri, Momente ihres Lebens
Self (archive footage)
2020Movie
Bulle
Marthe
2020TV
Claudia Cardinale, la créature du secret
Self (archive footage)
2019Movie
Gina, Sophia, Claudia, trois symboles de la féminité à l'italienne
Self
2019Movie
Rudy Valentino
Zia Rosa
2018Movie
Sergio Leone, une Amérique de légende
Self (archive footage)
2018Movie
Dios de monoambiente
Self (archive footage)
2018Movie
La Folle Histoire de Jean-Paul Belmondo
Self
2017Movie
An Italian Indian: The Pink Panther Princess With Claudia Cardinale
Self
2017Movie
Nobili bugie
Duchess
2017Movie
Una gita a Roma
Marguerite
2017Movie
Nonnas on the Run
Angela
2017Movie
La Loi de Julien, Le bon fils
Irène Delamarche
2017Movie
Il bello delle donne... alcuni anni dopo
Laura Banti
2017TV
All Roads Lead to Rome
Carmen
2016Movie
Luchino Visconti: Between Truth and Passion
Self (archive footage)
2016Movie
Belmondo by Belmondo
Self (archive footage)
2016Movie
The Blind and the Cardinal
'La Cardinale'
2016Movie
Mia, Liebe meines Lebens
Mary O'Sullivan
2016TV
Marcello Mastroianni, latin lover
Self
2015Movie
Twice Upon a Time in the West
Claudia
2015Movie
Effie Gray
Viscountess
2014Movie
Cinéma Jacques Perrin
Self
2014Movie
The Silent Mountain
Nuria Calzolari
2014Movie
Last Stop
Rosa
2014Movie
Joy de V.
Signora Morosini
2013Movie
Alberto il grande
Self
2013Movie
Monicelli: La versione di Mario
Self (archive footage)
2012Movie
Gebo and the Shadow
Doroteia
2012Movie
The Artist and the Model
Léa
2012Movie
The Years of Lost Images
Self
2012Movie
The Bardot mystery
2012Movie
Becoming Italian with Signora Enrica
Signora Enrica
2011Movie
Belmondo, itinéraire...
Self
2011Movie
Hollywood Invasion
Self (archive footage)
2011Movie
Father
Elvira
2011Movie
The Story of Film: An Odyssey
Self
2011TV
The King, the Squirrel and the Grass Snake
La duchesse de Polignac
2011TV
Il giorno della Shoah
Ester
2010Movie
A View of Love
La mère de Marc
2010Movie
The String
Sara
2009Movie
La Traversée du désir
Self
2009Movie
Pietro Germi - The Good, The Beautiful and The Bad
Self
2009Movie
Hollywood sul Tevere
2009Movie
Man & Wife, Cop & Crook
Cécile Deschamps
2008Movie
Il falso bugiardo
Self (archive footage)
2008Movie
Cherche fiancé tous frais payés
Elisabeth
2007Movie
Sergio Leone: The Way I See Things
Self
2006Movie
Marcello, una vita dolce
Self
2006Movie
The Demon Stirs
Claudia Cardinale
2005Movie
A Dying Breed: The Making of 'The Leopard'
Self
2004Movie
Por un puñado de sueños
Self - Interviewee
2004Movie
The Last Sequence
Self
2003Movie
An Opera of Violence
Self - Actress
2003Movie
The Wages of Sin
Self - Actress
2003Movie
Fellini: I'm a Born Liar
Claudia (archive footage) (uncredited)
2003Movie
Something to Do with Death
Self - Actress
2003Movie
The Magic of Fellini
Self (archive footage)
2002Movie
Luchino Visconti
Self
2002Movie
And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen...
Madame Falconetti
2002Movie
Heart of the Festival
Self (archive footage)
2002Movie
Visconti: La verdad del melodrama
Self
2001Movie
Ulisse - The Pleasure of Discovery
Self
2001TV
Once Upon a Time: Sergio Leone
Self
2000Movie
My Best Fiend
Self
1999Movie
Li chiamarono... briganti!
Donna Assunta
1999Movie
Riches, belles, etc.
Baroness Mitsy
1998Movie
Vivement dimanche
Self
1998TV
Stupor Mundi
Costanza d'Altavilla / d'Aragona
1997Movie
Desert of Fire
Leila
1997Movie
The Man with the Cigar in His Mouth
Self
1997Movie
Sous les pieds des femmes
Aya 1996
1997Movie
Desert of Fire
Leila
1997TV
Nostromo
Teresa Viola
1997TV
A Summer in La Goulette
Claudia Cardinale
1996Movie
10-07: L'affaire Zeus
Agent
1995TV
Elles ne pensent qu'à ça...
Margaux
1994Movie
Alex et Marie
Narrator (voice)
1994Movie
Il gattopardo: Viaggio della memoria
Self
1994Movie
Son of the Pink Panther
Maria Gambrelli
1993Movie
Flash – Der Fotoreporter
Gilda Ricci / Monica Ricci
1993TV
588 rue Paradis
Araxi (Mayrig) Zakarian
1992Movie
Mother
Araxi (Mayrig) Zakarian
1991Movie
Act of Sorrow
Elena
1990Movie
Drums of Fire
Roxelane
1990Movie
Stars 90
Self
1990TV
The French Revolution
Duchesse de Polignac
1989Movie
Hiver 54, l'abbé Pierre
Hélène Larmier
1989Movie
The French Revolution
Yolande-Gabrielle de Polastron, duchesse de Polignac (« Les Années Lumière »)
1989TV
A Man in Love
Julia Steiner
1987Movie
Téléthon
Self
1987TV
Sacrée soirée
Self
1987TV
History
Ida Mancuso
1986TV
Naso di cane
Laura
1986TV
Woman of Wonders
Maura
1985Movie
Next Summer
Jeanne
1985Movie
Night of 100 Stars II
Self
1985Movie
Henry IV
Matilda
1984Movie
Claretta
Miriam Petacci
1984Movie
The Ruffian
La « Baronne »
1983Movie
Princess Daisy
Annabelle de Fourdemont Valensky
1983TV
Famous T & A
(archive footage)
1982Movie
Fitzcarraldo
Molly
1982Movie
Burden of Dreams
Self - Actress
1982Movie
Bankers Also Have Souls
Antonella Dufour
1982Movie
Champs-Elysées
Self
1982TV
The Salamander
Elena Leporello
1981Movie
The Skin
Principessa Consuelo Caracciolo
1981Movie
Si salvi chi vuole
Luisa
1980Movie
Escape to Athena
Eleana
1979Movie
Corleone
Rosa Accordino
1978Movie
Little Girl in Blue Velvet
Francesca Modigliani
1978Movie
The Gun
Marta Compagna
1978Movie
Fire's Share
Catherine Hansen
1978Movie
Ciné regards
Self
1978TV
I Am the Law
Anna
1977Movie
Goodbye & Amen
Aliki
1977Movie
Kolossal - The Magnificent Macisti
Pauline Bonaparte
1977Movie
Jesus of Nazareth
The Adulteress
1977TV
A Common Sense of Modesty
Armida Ballarin
1976Movie
Blonde in Black Leather
Claudia
1975Movie
Midnight Pleasures
Gabriella Sansoni
1975Movie
Libera, My Love
Libera Valente
1975Movie
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Self
1975TV
Numéro un
Self
1975TV
Midi Première
Self
1975TV
Blood Brothers
Lucia Esposito
1974Movie
Conversation Piece
Professor's Wife (uncredited)
1974Movie
Spécial cinéma
Self
1974TV
One Russian Summer
Anya
1973Movie
The Audience
Aiche
1972Movie
The Pariah
Georgia Saratov
1972Movie
Midi trente
Self
1972TV
A Girl in Australia
Carmela
1971Movie
The Legend of Frenchie King
Marie Sarrazin
1971Movie
Popsy Pop
Popsy Pop
1971Movie
Samedi soir
Self
1971TV
The Adventures of Gerard
Teresa, Countess of Morales
1970Movie
The Red Tent
Valeria
1969Movie
Diary of a Telephone Operator
Marta Chiaretti
1969Movie
The Conspirators
Giuditta Di Castro
1969Movie
The Day of the Owl
Rosa Nicolosi
1968Movie
The Hell with Heroes
Elena
1968Movie
A Fine Pair
Esmeralda Marini
1968Movie
Once Upon a Time in the West
Jill
1968Movie
Don't Make Waves
Laura
1967Movie
A Rose for Everyone
Rosa
1967Movie
The Professionals
Maria
1966Movie
Blindfold
Vicky Vicenti
1966Movie
The Queens
Armenia ("Fata Armenia")
1966Movie
Lost Command
Aisha
1966Movie
Sandra
Sandra Dawson
1965Movie
Tokyo Olympiad
Thanks
1965Movie
Circus World
Toni Alfredo
1964Movie
Time of Indifference
Carla
1964Movie
The Magnificent Cuckold
Maria Grazia
1964Movie
Bebo's Girl
Mara
1964Movie
8½
Claudia
1963Movie
The Pink Panther
The Princess Dala
1963Movie
The Leopard
Angelica Sedara / Bastiana
1963Movie
Cartouche
Vénus
1962Movie
Careless
Angiolina Zarri
1962Movie
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962TV
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962TV
Girl with a Suitcase
Aida Zepponi
1961Movie
The Lions Are Loose
Albertine Ferran
1961Movie
The Lovemakers
Bianca
1961Movie
Auguste
Cameo Appearance (uncredited)
1961Movie
Rocco and His Brothers
Ginetta
1960Movie
Austerlitz
Pauline Bonaparte
1960Movie
Il bell'Antonio
Barbara Puglisi
1960Movie
The Dolphins
Fedora Santini
1960Movie
The Facts of Murder
La servetta, Assuntina
1959Movie
Upstairs and Downstairs
Maria
1959Movie
The Magistrate
Maria
1959Movie
Venetian Honeymoon
Angelica
1959Movie
Goha
Amina
1959Movie
South Wind
Grazia Macri
1959Movie
Fiasco in Milan
Carmelina Nicosia
1959Movie
Big Deal on Madonna Street
Carmelina
1958Movie
3 Strangers in Rome
Marisa
1958Movie
Algeria in Flames
Self - Arab woman (uncredited)
1958Movie
Les Anneaux d'Or
A young woman
1956Movie
Cinépanorama
Self
1956TV
Reflets de Cannes
Self
1954TV
The Oscars
Self
1953TV
Bambi
Self
1948TV
Second to Nun
Self - Festival Actress
—Movie
Piccolina bella
—Movie
Rumore
—Movie