Gina Lollobrigida was a stunning Italian actress who captivated audiences in the 1950s and 1960s.
Starting with roles in Italy, such as La Bersagliera (Luigi Comencini's Bread, Love, and Dreams) and Gemma Vagnuzzi (The Wayward Wife, 1953), she quickly became an international star.
She was dubbed "the most beautiful woman in the world" and rose to become one of the highest-paid actresses of her generation.
Born in 1927, Gina was the second of four sisters in a poor working-class family in Subiaco, Italy. Aware of her striking beauty early on, she participated in beauty contests, most notably finishing as the second runner-up in Miss Italy 1947.
Gina began her acting career in 1945, initially playing minor roles. Her first major success came with the romantic comedy "Bread, Love, and Dreams" (1953). This film succeeded at the box office, earning Gina a BAFTA nomination and a Silver Ribbon award in Italy.
She continued to make her mark with films like "The Wayward Wife" (1953) and "Woman of Rome" (1954) and also starred in French films such as "Fearless Little Soldier" (1952), "Beauties of the Night" (1952), and "Le Grand Jeu" (1954).
Her first English-speaking role was in "Beat the Devil" (1953), where she played the wife of Humphrey Bogart's character.
In 1961, she won the prestigious Golden Globe for her role in "Come September." She was invited to announce the Best Director award at the Oscars.
Gina's career peaked in the 1950s and 1960s with significant projects such as "Woman of Straw" (1964), "Strange Bedfellows" (1965), "Hotel Paradiso" (1966), and "The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell" (1968).
Known for her talent and captivating looks, her sharp features and hourglass figure (91-56-89 cm at her peak) enchanted men and evoked envy in women. Dubbed the Mona Lisa of the 20th century, she was Hollywood's number one sex symbol.
Gina Lollobrigida was frequently compared to Marilyn Monroe. Both were iconic beauties of the 1950s and 1960s, captivating audiences with their charm and talent.
While Marilyn Monroe was the quintessential American sex symbol, Lollobrigida represented the allure and elegance of Europe.
Humphrey Bogart once said, "She makes Marilyn Monroe look like Shirley Temple." Even Rock Hudson, her co-star in Come September (1961) and Strange Bedfellows (1965), who would later come out as gay, was not immune to her sexual charms.
"I don't think he was gay then -- people can change," she said. "When we did our love scenes, he was quite...normal. He liked me very much. I felt something . . . it was more than a kiss."
At the height of her stardom, she landed in Argentina for a visit and was met by 60,000 fans, including the country's dashing president, Juan Peron. In London, hotpants were sold with her name stitched across the back in sequins.
Meanwhile, her Italian compatriots named a new lettuce variety, the lollo rosso, after her signature curly updo. The newspaper Il Messaggero described her as "opulent, carnal, bewitching, earthy, vital, vibrant, elegant, imperial, an ambassadress of Italian glamour to the world."
By the 1970s, her film career began to fade, but her status in the industry remained intact.
She was invited to serve as a judge at the 8th Moscow International Film Festival (1973) and the 36th Berlin International Film Festival (1986). She also took on television roles, earning a Golden Globe nomination for "Falcon Crest."
Gina continually reinvented herself, transitioning into sculpture, politics, photography, and journalism. In 1974, she secured an exclusive interview with Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid tribute to Lollobrigida: "Farewell to a diva of the silver screen, protagonist of more than half a century of Italian cinema history. Her charm will remain eternal."
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