Claudia Cardinale

Actor

Italian La Goulette, Tunis, French protectorate of Tunisia

Quick Info

ProfessionActor
NationalityItalian
Date of Birth15/04/1938
Age87 years (died on 23, Sep, 2025)
BirthplaceLa Goulette, Tunis, French protectorate of Tunisia
Date of Death23/09/2025

Latest News about Claudia Cardinale

23/09/2025

Claudia Cardinale, the legendary Italian-Tunisian actress and one of the leading figures of Italian cinema, passed away on September 23, 2025, at the age of 87. Her death marked the end of a remarkable career spanning more than six decades, during which she became an international icon known for her roles in masterpieces of world cinema including Federico Fellini's 8½ and Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West.

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Bio/Wiki

Birth NameClaude Joséphine Rose Cardinale
NicknameCC
Famous Role'Claudia' in the film 8½ (1963)

Physical Stats & More

Height5' 6" (168 cm)
Eye ColorGreen
Hair ColorDark Brown

Educational Qualification(s)

School
  • Saint-Joseph-de-l'Apparition School of Carthage, Carthage, Tunisia
  • Paul Cambon School
Educational QualificationGraduate

Personal Life

Food HabitVegetarian

Relationships & More

Marital StatusDivorced
Affairs/Boyfriends
  • Warren Beatty (1963-1965)
  • Franco Cristaldi (1966-1975)
  • Jacques Chirac (1974) (rumoured)
  • Pasquale Squitieri (1975 - until his death in 2017)
Marriage Date1966

Family

FatherFrancesco Cardinale (railway worker)
MotherYolanda Greco
Siblings
  • Bruno Cardinale
  • Adriano Cardinale
  • Blanche Cardinale (costume designer)
SpouseFranco Cristaldi (film producer)
Children
  • Patrick Cristaldi (actor)
  • Claudia Squitieri (author)

Career

Debut
Short FilmAnneaux d'or (1956) as a young arab girl
FilmGoha (1958) as 'Amina'
TVJesus of Nazareth (1977) as 'the Adulteress' (Rai 1)
Last FilmThe Island of Forgiveness (2022) as 'Agostina'
Awards and Honours
  • 1961: David di Donatello Award at the Taormina Film Fest (TFF)
  • 1965: Best Actress award for the film 'La ragazza di Bube' at the Nastro d'Argento
  • 1968: Best Actress award for 'The Day of the Owl' at the David di Donatello Awards
  • 1972: Best Actress award for 'A Girl in Australia' at the David di Donatello Awards
  • 1982: Best Supporting Actress award for 'The Skin' at the Nastro d'Argento
  • 1984: Best Actress award for 'Claretta' at the Venice International Film Festival
  • 1985: Best Actress award for 'Claretta' at the Nastro d'Argento
  • 1988: Alitalia Award at the David di Donatello Awards
  • 1990: Best Achievement in Cinema at the Montréal World Film Festival
  • 1991: Best Actress award for 'Atto di dolore' at the Globo d'oro
  • 1993: Career Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival
  • 1997: Special David Award at the David di Donatello Awards
  • 1998: Career Award at the Flaiano International Prizes
  • 2000: European Silver Ribbon at the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists Awards
  • 2002: Honorary Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival
  • 2003: European Actors Award at the Filmfest Ludwigsburg
  • 2004: Premio Tabernas de Cine at the Almería International Film Festival
  • 2006: Henri-Langlois Prize
  • 2009: Lifetime Achievement Award at the Transilvania International Film Festival
  • 2010: Best Actress award for 'Signora Enrica' at the 47th International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival
  • 2011: Lifetime Achievement Award at the Golden Eagle Awards, Russia
  • 2012: Leon Cakoff Prize at the São Paulo International Film Festival
  • 2013: Honorary Lumière Award at the Lumière Awards
  • 2014: Career Golden Globe at the Globo d'oro
  • 2015: Lifetime Achievement Award at the CineFest Miskolc International Film Festival
  • 2016: Grand Acting Award at Film by the Sea
  • 2017: Best International Actress at the Films Infest
  • 2018: Special Golden Camera 300 at the International Cinematographers Film Festival
  • 2022: Lifetime Achievement Award at the Apulia Soundtrack Awards
Notable Films
  • Rocco and His Brothers (1960)
  • Girl with a Suitcase (1961)
  • Cartouche (1962)
  • The Leopard (1963)
  • Once Upon a Time in the West

Social Media

Official Websitehttps://official-claudiacardinale.com/

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Claudia Cardinale was born to Sicilian parents in Tunis, Tunisia, and was raised speaking French at home.
2. She is the eldest of four children, having one sister and two brothers.
3. Her initial role in Italian films was often dubbed due to her accent; it wasn't until her collaboration with Federico Fellini in '8½' that she used her natural voice.
4. Claudia decided to pursue a career in acting over her initial plan of training as a teacher.
5. During her teenage years, she gained recognition as 'Most Beautiful Italian Girl in Tunisia,' which opened doors to her film career.
6. Throughout her early career, Claudia faced personal challenges, including a pregnancy during a troubled relationship.
7. She entered the world of cinema in 1955 at age 17 after winning a beauty contest organized by the Italian film office.
8. Although of Italian nationality, she did not learn to speak Italian until age twenty when she began acting in films.
9. She appeared in over 100 films across various languages throughout her career.
10. She worked with legendary directors including Federico Fellini and Sergio Leone, helping to shape European cinema during the 1960s.
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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