Born in Rome in 1934 as Sofia Villani Scicolone, Sophia Loren overcame a tough childhood in post-war Italy to become one of the most iconic actresses in film history. She was discovered as a teenager, and her striking beauty, magnetic presence, and undeniable talent quickly launched her into the spotlight.

Loren first made a name for herself in Italian cinema during the 1950s before breaking into Hollywood. Her groundbreaking performance in Two Women (1960) earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress—the first ever awarded for a role in a non-English-language film.

During the 1960s and ’70s, she starred in beloved classics like Marriage Italian Style, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, and A Special Day, often sharing the screen with fellow Italian star Marcello Mastroianni. Loren became known for playing bold, resilient women—roles that mirrored her own spirit.

Off-screen, she shared a decades-long love story with film producer Carlo Ponti, and was a devoted mother to their two sons. In 2020, she returned to the screen in The Life Ahead, directed by her son Edoardo Ponti, earning widespread acclaim.

With a career that has spanned more than seven decades, Sophia Loren remains a symbol of timeless grace, strength, and cinematic brilliance.