Claudia Cardinale
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- April 15, 1938
- Died
- September 23, 2025 (aged 87)
- Birthplace
- La Goulette, Protectorat français de Tunisie
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.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Second to Nun
Movie · as Self - Festival Actress
Piccolina bella
Movie
Rumore
Movie
The Life of Mirrors
Movie
Claudia la mystérieuse
Movie · as Self
The Island of Forgiveness
Movie · as Agostina
Fellinopolis
Movie · as Self - Actress (archive footage)
We Are Cinema
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Morceaux de Cannes
Movie
Sicilians of Africa
Movie · as Self
Rogue City
Movie · as Catarina Bastiani
Nana Mouskouri, Momente ihres Lebens
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Bulle
TV · as Marthe · 6 eps
Claudia Cardinale, la créature du secret
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Gina, Sophia, Claudia, trois symboles de la féminité à l'italienne
Movie · as Self
Rudy Valentino
Movie · as Zia Rosa
Sergio Leone, une Amérique de légende
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Dios de monoambiente
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
La Folle Histoire de Jean-Paul Belmondo
Movie · as Self
An Italian Indian: The Pink Panther Princess With Claudia Cardinale
Movie · as Self
Nobili bugie
Movie · as Duchess
Una gita a Roma
Movie · as Marguerite
Nonnas on the Run
Movie · as Angela
La Loi de Julien, Le bon fils
Movie · as Irène Delamarche
Il bello delle donne... alcuni anni dopo
TV · as Laura Banti · 8 eps
All Roads Lead to Rome
Movie · as Carmen
Luchino Visconti: Between Truth and Passion
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Belmondo by Belmondo
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Blind and the Cardinal
Movie · as 'La Cardinale'
Mia, Liebe meines Lebens
TV · as Mary O'Sullivan · 4 eps
Marcello Mastroianni, latin lover
Movie · as Self
Twice Upon a Time in the West
Movie · as Claudia
Effie Gray
Movie · as Viscountess
Cinéma Jacques Perrin
Movie · as Self
The Silent Mountain
Movie · as Nuria Calzolari
Last Stop
Movie · as Rosa
Joy de V.
Movie · as Signora Morosini
Alberto il grande
Movie · as Self
Monicelli: La versione di Mario
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Gebo and the Shadow
Movie · as Doroteia
The Artist and the Model
Movie · as Léa
The Years of Lost Images
Movie · as Self
The Bardot mystery
Movie
Becoming Italian with Signora Enrica
Movie · as Signora Enrica
Belmondo, itinéraire...
Movie · as Self
Hollywood Invasion
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Father
Movie · as Elvira
The Story of Film: An Odyssey
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The King, the Squirrel and the Grass Snake
TV · as La duchesse de Polignac · 1 ep
Il giorno della Shoah
Movie · as Ester
A View of Love
Movie · as La mère de Marc
The String
Movie · as Sara
La Traversée du désir
Movie · as Self
Pietro Germi - The Good, The Beautiful and The Bad
Movie · as Self
Hollywood sul Tevere
Movie
Man & Wife, Cop & Crook
Movie · as Cécile Deschamps
Il falso bugiardo
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Cherche fiancé tous frais payés
Movie · as Elisabeth
Sergio Leone: The Way I See Things
Movie · as Self
Marcello, una vita dolce
Movie · as Self
The Demon Stirs
Movie · as Claudia Cardinale
A Dying Breed: The Making of 'The Leopard'
Movie · as Self
Por un puñado de sueños
Movie · as Self - Interviewee
The Last Sequence
Movie · as Self
An Opera of Violence
Movie · as Self - Actress
The Wages of Sin
Movie · as Self - Actress
Fellini: I'm a Born Liar
Movie · as Claudia (archive footage) (uncredited)
Something to Do with Death
Movie · as Self - Actress
The Magic of Fellini
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Luchino Visconti
Movie · as Self
And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen...
Movie · as Madame Falconetti
Heart of the Festival
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Visconti: La verdad del melodrama
Movie · as Self
Ulisse - The Pleasure of Discovery
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Once Upon a Time: Sergio Leone
Movie · as Self
My Best Fiend
Movie · as Self
Li chiamarono... briganti!
Movie · as Donna Assunta
Riches, belles, etc.
Movie · as Baroness Mitsy
Vivement dimanche
TV · as Self · 5 eps
Stupor Mundi
Movie · as Costanza d'Altavilla / d'Aragona
Desert of Fire
Movie · as Leila
The Man with the Cigar in His Mouth
Movie · as Self
Sous les pieds des femmes
Movie · as Aya 1996
Desert of Fire
TV · as Leila · 3 eps
Nostromo
TV · as Teresa Viola · 3 eps
A Summer in La Goulette
Movie · as Claudia Cardinale
10-07: L'affaire Zeus
TV · as Agent · 4 eps
Elles ne pensent qu'à ça...
Movie · as Margaux
Alex et Marie
Movie · as Narrator (voice)
Il gattopardo: Viaggio della memoria
Movie · as Self
Son of the Pink Panther
Movie · as Maria Gambrelli
Flash – Der Fotoreporter
TV · as Gilda Ricci / Monica Ricci · 1 ep
588 rue Paradis
Movie · as Araxi (Mayrig) Zakarian
Mother
Movie · as Araxi (Mayrig) Zakarian
Act of Sorrow
Movie · as Elena
Drums of Fire
Movie · as Roxelane
Stars 90
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The French Revolution
Movie · as Duchesse de Polignac
Hiver 54, l'abbé Pierre
Movie · as Hélène Larmier
The French Revolution
TV · as Yolande-Gabrielle de Polastron, duchesse de Polignac (« Les Années Lumière ») · 2 eps
A Man in Love
Movie · as Julia Steiner
Téléthon
TV · as Self · 2 eps
Sacrée soirée
TV · as Self · 4 eps
History
TV · as Ida Mancuso · 3 eps
Naso di cane
TV · as Laura · 3 eps
Woman of Wonders
Movie · as Maura
Next Summer
Movie · as Jeanne
Night of 100 Stars II
Movie · as Self
Henry IV
Movie · as Matilda
Claretta
Movie · as Miriam Petacci
The Ruffian
Movie · as La « Baronne »
Princess Daisy
TV · as Annabelle de Fourdemont Valensky · 2 eps
Famous T & A
Movie · as (archive footage)
Fitzcarraldo
Movie · as Molly
Burden of Dreams
Movie · as Self - Actress
Bankers Also Have Souls
Movie · as Antonella Dufour
Champs-Elysées
TV · as Self · 3 eps
The Salamander
Movie · as Elena Leporello
The Skin
Movie · as Principessa Consuelo Caracciolo
Si salvi chi vuole
Movie · as Luisa
Escape to Athena
Movie · as Eleana
Corleone
Movie · as Rosa Accordino
Little Girl in Blue Velvet
Movie · as Francesca Modigliani
The Gun
Movie · as Marta Compagna
Fire's Share
Movie · as Catherine Hansen
Ciné regards
TV · as Self · 1 ep
I Am the Law
Movie · as Anna
Goodbye & Amen
Movie · as Aliki
Kolossal - The Magnificent Macisti
Movie · as Pauline Bonaparte
Jesus of Nazareth
TV · as The Adulteress · 4 eps
A Common Sense of Modesty
Movie · as Armida Ballarin
Blonde in Black Leather
Movie · as Claudia
Midnight Pleasures
Movie · as Gabriella Sansoni
Libera, My Love
Movie · as Libera Valente
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
TV · as Self · 2 eps
Numéro un
TV · as Self, Self - Host · 1 ep
Midi Première
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Blood Brothers
Movie · as Lucia Esposito
Conversation Piece
Movie · as Professor's Wife (uncredited)
Spécial cinéma
TV · as Self · 1 ep
One Russian Summer
Movie · as Anya
The Audience
Movie · as Aiche
The Pariah
Movie · as Georgia Saratov
Midi trente
TV · as Self · 1 ep
A Girl in Australia
Movie · as Carmela
The Legend of Frenchie King
Movie · as Marie Sarrazin
Popsy Pop
Movie · as Popsy Pop
Samedi soir
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Adventures of Gerard
Movie · as Teresa, Countess of Morales
The Red Tent
Movie · as Valeria
Diary of a Telephone Operator
Movie · as Marta Chiaretti
The Conspirators
Movie · as Giuditta Di Castro
The Day of the Owl
Movie · as Rosa Nicolosi
The Hell with Heroes
Movie · as Elena
A Fine Pair
Movie · as Esmeralda Marini
Once Upon a Time in the West
Movie · as Jill
Don't Make Waves
Movie · as Laura
A Rose for Everyone
Movie · as Rosa
The Professionals
Movie · as Maria
Blindfold
Movie · as Vicky Vicenti
The Queens
Movie · as Armenia ("Fata Armenia")
Lost Command
Movie · as Aisha
Sandra
Movie · as Sandra Dawson
Circus World
Movie · as Toni Alfredo
Time of Indifference
Movie · as Carla
The Magnificent Cuckold
Movie · as Maria Grazia
Bebo's Girl
Movie · as Mara
8½
Movie · as Claudia
The Pink Panther
Movie · as The Princess Dala
The Leopard
Movie · as Angelica Sedara / Bastiana
Cartouche
Movie · as Vénus
Careless
Movie · as Angiolina Zarri
The Merv Griffin Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Girl with a Suitcase
Movie · as Aida Zepponi
The Lions Are Loose
Movie · as Albertine Ferran
The Lovemakers
Movie · as Bianca
Auguste
Movie · as Cameo Appearance (uncredited)
Rocco and His Brothers
Movie · as Ginetta
Austerlitz
Movie · as Pauline Bonaparte
Il bell'Antonio
Movie · as Barbara Puglisi
The Dolphins
Movie · as Fedora Santini
The Facts of Murder
Movie · as La servetta, Assuntina
Upstairs and Downstairs
Movie · as Maria
The Magistrate
Movie · as Maria
Venetian Honeymoon
Movie · as Angelica
Goha
Movie · as Amina
South Wind
Movie · as Grazia Macri
Fiasco in Milan
Movie · as Carmelina Nicosia
Big Deal on Madonna Street
Movie · as Carmelina
3 Strangers in Rome
Movie · as Marisa
Algeria in Flames
Movie · as Self - Arab woman (uncredited)
Les Anneaux d'Or
Movie · as A young woman
Cinépanorama
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Reflets de Cannes
TV · as Self · 2 eps
The Oscars
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Bambi
TV · as Self · 1 ep