Claudia Cardinale’s six-decade career lit up the screen with her breathtaking presence, leaving an indelible mark on Italian and international cinema.

Discovered at 18, the Tunisian-born actress was crowned “Most Beautiful Italian Girl in Tunisia,” setting her on an unexpected path to stardom.

Despite early success, her life was marked by trauma, including a secret pregnancy from rape and a controlling marriage to producer Franco Cristaldi, who shaped her career but stifled her personal life.

Cardinale became a star in films like 8½, The Leopard, and Once Upon a Time in the West, earning comparisons to Brigitte Bardot. Though she found success in Hollywood, she preferred European cinema’s artistic freedom. “I never did anything to change my face,” she said. “You cannot stop time.”

Now 86, Cardinale lives in France, focusing on advocacy for women’s rights as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. Through it all, she remains an icon of resilience and elegance.