The Life of Mirrors
2025 · Movie
Claudia Cardinale
1938-04-15
•
La Goulette, Protectorat français de Tunisie
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.
Filmography
Claudia la mystérieuse
2022 · Movie
as Self
The Island of Forgiveness
2022 · Movie
as Agostina
Fellinopolis
2021 · Movie
as Self - Actress (archive footage)
We Are Cinema
2021 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
Morceaux de Cannes
2021 · Movie
Rogue City
2020 · Movie
as Catarina Bastiani
Nana Mouskouri, Momente ihres Lebens
2020 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
Bulle
2020 · TV Show
as Marthe
Claudia Cardinale, la créature du secret
2019 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
Gina, Sophia, Claudia, trois symboles de la féminité à l'italienne
2019 · Movie
as Self
Rudy Valentino
2018 · Movie
as Zia Rosa
Sergio Leone, une Amérique de légende
2018 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
No image
Dios de monoambiente
2018 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
La Folle Histoire de Jean-Paul Belmondo
2017 · Movie
as Self
No image
An Italian Indian: The Pink Panther Princess With Claudia Cardinale
2017 · Movie
as Self
Nobili bugie
2017 · Movie
as Duchess
Una gita a Roma
2017 · Movie
as Marguerite
Nonnas on the Run
2017 · Movie
as Angela
La Loi de Julien, Le bon fils
2017 · Movie
as Irène Delamarche
Il bello delle donne... alcuni anni dopo
2017 · TV Show
as Laura Banti
All Roads Lead to Rome
2016 · Movie
as Carmen
Luchino Visconti: Between Truth and Passion
2016 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
Belmondo by Belmondo
2016 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
The Blind and the Cardinal
2016 · Movie
as 'La Cardinale'
Mia, Liebe meines Lebens
2016 · TV Show
as Mary O'Sullivan
No image
Marcello Mastroianni, latin lover
2015 · Movie
as Self
Twice Upon a Time in the West
2015 · Movie
as Claudia
Effie Gray
2014 · Movie
as Viscountess
No image
Cinéma Jacques Perrin
2014 · Movie
as Self
The Silent Mountain
2014 · Movie
as Nuria Calzolari
Last Stop
2014 · Movie
as Rosa
No image
Joy de V.
2013 · Movie
as Signora Morosini
Alberto il grande
2013 · Movie
as Self
Monicelli: La versione di Mario
2012 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
Gebo and the Shadow
2012 · Movie
as Doroteia
The Artist and the Model
2012 · Movie
as Léa
The Years of Lost Images
2012 · Movie
as Self
The Bardot mystery
2012 · Movie
Becoming Italian with Signora Enrica
2011 · Movie
as Signora Enrica
Belmondo, itinéraire...
2011 · Movie
as Self
Hollywood Invasion
2011 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
Father
2011 · Movie
as Elvira
The Story of Film: An Odyssey
2011 · TV Show
as Self
The King, the Squirrel and the Grass Snake
2011 · TV Show
as La duchesse de Polignac
No image
Il giorno della Shoah
2010 · Movie
as Ester
A View of Love
2010 · Movie
as La mère de Marc
The String
2009 · Movie
as Sara
La Traversée du désir
2009 · Movie
as Self
Pietro Germi - The Good, The Beautiful and The Bad
2009 · Movie
as Self
Hollywood sul Tevere
2009 · Movie
Man & Wife, Cop & Crook
2008 · Movie
as Cécile Deschamps
Il falso bugiardo
2008 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
Cherche fiancé tous frais payés
2007 · Movie
as Elisabeth
Sergio Leone: The Way I See Things
2006 · Movie
as Self
Marcello, una vita dolce
2006 · Movie
as Self
The Demon Stirs
2005 · Movie
as Claudia Cardinale
A Dying Breed: The Making of 'The Leopard'
2004 · Movie
as Self
Por un puñado de sueños
2004 · Movie
as Self - Interviewee
The Last Sequence
2003 · Movie
as Self
An Opera of Violence
2003 · Movie
as Self - Actress
The Wages of Sin
2003 · Movie
as Self - Actress
Fellini: I'm a Born Liar
2003 · Movie
as Claudia (archive footage) (uncredited)
Something to Do with Death
2003 · Movie
as Self - Actress
The Magic of Fellini
2002 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
Luchino Visconti
2002 · Movie
as Self
And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen...
2002 · Movie
as Madame Falconetti
Heart of the Festival
2002 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
No image
Visconti: La verdad del melodrama
2001 · Movie
as Self
Ulisse - The Pleasure of Discovery
2001 · TV Show
as Self
Once Upon a Time: Sergio Leone
2000 · Movie
as Self
My Best Fiend
1999 · Movie
as Self
Li chiamarono... briganti!
1999 · Movie
as Donna Assunta
Riches, belles, etc.
1998 · Movie
as Baroness Mitsy
Vivement dimanche
1998 · TV Show
as Self
Stupor Mundi
1997 · Movie
as Costanza d'Altavilla / d'Aragona
Desert of Fire
1997 · Movie
as Leila
The Man with the Cigar in His Mouth
1997 · Movie
as Self
Sous les pieds des femmes
1997 · Movie
as Aya 1996
Desert of Fire
1997 · TV Show
as Leila
Nostromo
1997 · TV Show
as Teresa Viola
A Summer in La Goulette
1996 · Movie
as Claudia Cardinale
No image
10-07: L'affaire Zeus
1995 · TV Show
as Agent
Elles ne pensent qu'à ça...
1994 · Movie
as Margaux
No image
Alex et Marie
1994 · Movie
as Narrator (voice)
No image
Il gattopardo: Viaggio della memoria
1994 · Movie
as Self
Son of the Pink Panther
1993 · Movie
as Maria Gambrelli
No image
Flash – Der Fotoreporter
1993 · TV Show
as Gilda Ricci / Monica Ricci
588 rue Paradis
1992 · Movie
as Araxi (Mayrig) Zakarian
Mother
1991 · Movie
as Araxi (Mayrig) Zakarian
Act of Sorrow
1990 · Movie
as Elena
Drums of Fire
1990 · Movie
as Roxelane
Stars 90
1990 · TV Show
as Self
The French Revolution
1989 · Movie
as Duchesse de Polignac
Hiver 54, l'abbé Pierre
1989 · Movie
as Hélène Larmier
The French Revolution
1989 · TV Show
as Yolande-Gabrielle de Polastron, duchesse de Polignac (« Les Années Lumière »)
A Man in Love
1987 · Movie
as Julia Steiner
Téléthon
1987 · TV Show
as Self
Sacrée soirée
1987 · TV Show
as Self
History
1986 · TV Show
as Ida Mancuso
Naso di cane
1986 · TV Show
as Laura
Woman of Wonders
1985 · Movie
as Maura
Next Summer
1985 · Movie
as Jeanne
Night of 100 Stars II
1985 · Movie
as Self
Henry IV
1984 · Movie
as Matilda
Claretta
1984 · Movie
as Miriam Petacci
The Ruffian
1983 · Movie
as La « Baronne »
Princess Daisy
1983 · TV Show
as Annabelle de Fourdemont Valensky
Famous T & A
1982 · Movie
as (archive footage)
Fitzcarraldo
1982 · Movie
as Molly
Burden of Dreams
1982 · Movie
as Self - Actress
Bankers Also Have Souls
1982 · Movie
as Antonella Dufour
Champs-Elysées
1982 · TV Show
as Self
The Salamander
1981 · Movie
as Elena Leporello
The Skin
1981 · Movie
as Principessa Consuelo Caracciolo
Si salvi chi vuole
1980 · Movie
as Luisa
Escape to Athena
1979 · Movie
as Eleana
Corleone
1978 · Movie
as Rosa Accordino
Little Girl in Blue Velvet
1978 · Movie
as Francesca Modigliani
The Gun
1978 · Movie
as Marta Compagna
Fire's Share
1978 · Movie
as Catherine Hansen
Ciné regards
1978 · TV Show
as Self
I Am the Law
1977 · Movie
as Anna
Goodbye & Amen
1977 · Movie
as Aliki
Kolossal - The Magnificent Macisti
1977 · Movie
as Pauline Bonaparte
Jesus of Nazareth
1977 · TV Show
as The Adulteress
A Common Sense of Modesty
1976 · Movie
as Armida Ballarin
Blonde in Black Leather
1975 · Movie
as Claudia
Midnight Pleasures
1975 · Movie
as Gabriella Sansoni
Libera, My Love
1975 · Movie
as Libera Valente
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
1975 · TV Show
as Self
Numéro un
1975 · TV Show
as Self, Self - Host
Midi Première
1975 · TV Show
as Self
Blood Brothers
1974 · Movie
as Lucia Esposito
Conversation Piece
1974 · Movie
as Professor's Wife (uncredited)
Spécial cinéma
1974 · TV Show
as Self
One Russian Summer
1973 · Movie
as Anya
The Audience
1972 · Movie
as Aiche
The Pariah
1972 · Movie
as Georgia Saratov
Midi trente
1972 · TV Show
as Self
A Girl in Australia
1971 · Movie
as Carmela
The Legend of Frenchie King
1971 · Movie
as Marie Sarrazin
Popsy Pop
1971 · Movie
as Popsy Pop
No image
Samedi soir
1971 · TV Show
as Self
The Adventures of Gerard
1970 · Movie
as Teresa, Countess of Morales
The Red Tent
1969 · Movie
as Valeria
Diary of a Telephone Operator
1969 · Movie
as Marta Chiaretti
The Conspirators
1969 · Movie
as Giuditta Di Castro
The Day of the Owl
1968 · Movie
as Rosa Nicolosi
The Hell with Heroes
1968 · Movie
as Elena
A Fine Pair
1968 · Movie
as Esmeralda Marini
Once Upon a Time in the West
1968 · Movie
as Jill
Don't Make Waves
1967 · Movie
as Laura
A Rose for Everyone
1967 · Movie
as Rosa
The Professionals
1966 · Movie
as Maria
Blindfold
1966 · Movie
as Vicky Vicenti
The Queens
1966 · Movie
as Armenia ("Fata Armenia")
Lost Command
1966 · Movie
as Aisha
Sandra
1965 · Movie
as Sandra Dawson
Circus World
1964 · Movie
as Toni Alfredo
Time of Indifference
1964 · Movie
as Carla
The Magnificent Cuckold
1964 · Movie
as Maria Grazia
Bebo's Girl
1964 · Movie
as Mara
8½
1963 · Movie
as Claudia
The Pink Panther
1963 · Movie
as The Princess Dala
The Leopard
1963 · Movie
as Angelica Sedara / Bastiana
Cartouche
1962 · Movie
as Vénus
Careless
1962 · Movie
as Angiolina Zarri
The Merv Griffin Show
1962 · TV Show
as Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962 · TV Show
as Self
Girl with a Suitcase
1961 · Movie
as Aida Zepponi
The Lions Are Loose
1961 · Movie
as Albertine Ferran
The Lovemakers
1961 · Movie
as Bianca
Auguste
1961 · Movie
as Cameo Appearance (uncredited)
Rocco and His Brothers
1960 · Movie
as Ginetta
Austerlitz
1960 · Movie
as Pauline Bonaparte
Il bell'Antonio
1960 · Movie
as Barbara Puglisi
The Dolphins
1960 · Movie
as Fedora Santini
The Facts of Murder
1959 · Movie
as La servetta, Assuntina
Upstairs and Downstairs
1959 · Movie
as Maria
The Magistrate
1959 · Movie
as Maria
Venetian Honeymoon
1959 · Movie
as Angelica
Goha
1959 · Movie
as Amina
South Wind
1959 · Movie
as Grazia Macri
Fiasco in Milan
1959 · Movie
as Carmelina Nicosia
Big Deal on Madonna Street
1958 · Movie
as Carmelina
3 Strangers in Rome
1958 · Movie
as Marisa
Algeria in Flames
1958 · Movie
as Self - Arab woman (uncredited)
Les Anneaux d'Or
1956 · Movie
as A young woman
Cinépanorama
1956 · TV Show
as Self
Reflets de Cannes
1954 · TV Show
as Self
The Oscars
1953 · TV Show
as Self
Bambi
1948 · TV Show
as Self
Second to Nun
· Movie
as Self - Festival Actress
No image
Piccolina bella
· Movie
No image
Rumore
· Movie
