Claudia Cardinale, the Tunisian-born actress who rose to become one of the most celebrated stars of Italian cinema during its golden age, has died at the age of 87. Her death was reported by French media, including AFP, marking the end of a remarkable career that spanned more than six decades and left an indelible imprint on both European and Hollywood filmmaking.
Born in Tunis in 1938 to Sicilian parents, Cardinale’s path to stardom began unexpectedly when she won a beauty contest in 1957. The prize, a trip to the Venice Film Festival, launched her into the spotlight. Although her strong Sicilian accent initially required her voice to be dubbed in early Italian films, she quickly overcame language barriers to establish herself as one of Europe’s most magnetic screen presences.
Her personal life, however, was marked by early struggles. At just 19, she became pregnant following an abusive relationship. In 1958, she gave birth to her son Patrick in London and, for several years, publicly introduced him as her younger brother while her parents raised him. Despite these challenges, Cardinale pursued her career relentlessly, breaking into leading roles that would soon define her international reputation.
The breakthrough came in 1963 when she starred in two landmark films: Federico Fellini’s surreal masterpiece 8½ and Luchino Visconti’s historical epic The Leopard, where she acted opposite Burt Lancaster. Juggling both roles simultaneously, she recalled the difficulty of maintaining different hairstyles for each project. Her work with these legendary directors placed her at the heart of Italian neorealism and the international art-house movement.
Hollywood soon came calling. Cardinale appeared in the Blake Edwards comedy The Pink Panther and later in Sergio Leone’s cult classic Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), where her performance as Jill McBain cemented her reputation as a screen icon. Known for her husky voice and striking beauty, she captivated audiences while challenging stereotypes of female roles in cinema.
Her career suffered a setback in the 1970s after separating from film producer Franco Cristaldi, who allegedly pressured Italian directors to ostracize her. Denied roles and financially strained, Cardinale eventually found a comeback when Franco Zeffirelli cast her in the 1977 television mini-series Jesus of Nazareth. She went on to collaborate with acclaimed European filmmakers including Werner Herzog and Marco Bellocchio, proving her resilience and adaptability.
Cardinale remained outspoken and fiercely independent throughout her life. She became known for her free spirit—famously defying Vatican protocol by meeting Pope Paul VI in a miniskirt. Later, she moved more into theatre, earning acclaim on the European stage while continuing to appear in films and television well into the 21st century. Her last screen credit was in the 2020 Swiss series Bulle.
Honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Berlin Film Festival in 2002, Cardinale reflected proudly on her extraordinary journey. “I’ve lived more than 150 lives—prostitute, saint, romantic, every kind of woman,” she said. “That is marvellous, to have the opportunity to change yourself. I’ve worked with the most important directors. They gave me everything.” With her passing, the world bids farewell to an indomitable spirit and one of cinema’s most enduring icons.
