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Claudia Cardinale, one of the most iconic actresses of European cinema, has passed away at the age of 87. Her legacy spans over six decades, 175 films and a life that defied conventions while celebrating freedom and authenticity.

In the wake of her passing, snippets of Claudia Cardinale’s films are flooding social media, rekindling the spell she cast on the silver screen. Each photograph of her now seems to belong to another time, a time of larger-than-life characters and burning passions, reflecting a woman of sun and sea, a Mediterranean rebel who carved her own path.
In La Goulette, a small harbor town near Tunis, the sun mingles with sea salt and jasmine blossoms. It was there, in 1938, that Claudia Cardinale, the daughter of Sicilian immigrants, first opened her eyes to the world. She grew up on the coast, surrounded by the sound of crashing waves, the voices of fishermen and the chaotic beauty of the markets. Claudia dreamed of becoming a teacher, eager to share knowledge and values. But destiny, as unpredictable as a Mediterranean breeze, had other plans.
At just 16, she was crowned “The Most Beautiful Italian Girl in Tunisia.” The prize: a trip to the Venice Film Festival. Strangers stopped her on the street for autographs, and producers were immediately drawn to this wild, untamed young woman. Beneath the flashes of cameras, Claudia stood firm, unblinking. Encouraged by her family, she decided to take a leap. In 1958, she appeared in Mario Monicelli’s Big Deal on Madonna Street (Le Pigeon). With that, the doors of cinema swung wide open, and she left for Rome to chase a new future.

Behind the glamour, Claudia carried a painful secret. As a teenager, she was the victim of a sexual assault that left her pregnant. Choosing courage over silence, she decided to keep her child, Patrick, raising him as her younger brother in the public eye. She revealed the truth seven years later. This choice was radical in an era when women were expected to conform and remain silent. Long before feminism became a movement, Claudia embodied independence and defiance, proving that femininity was about strength, not appearances.

In the 1960s, Cardinale’s career soared. Her screen presence was magnetic – earthy, fiery and undeniably sensual. She achieved cinematic immortality in 1963 with two masterpieces: Luchino Visconti’s The Leopard and Federico Fellini’s 8½.
As Angelica in The Leopard, she portrayed a woman of passion and ambition during a time of political upheaval. Fellini, on the other hand, cast her as a dreamlike, mysterious figure in 8½, finally allowing Claudia to use her own voice; deep, smoky and powerful, which had often been dubbed by others. Hollywood soon took notice. She starred alongside John Wayne, Burt Lancaster and Rita Hayworth in The Pink Panther and other international hits. “It’s fantastic,” she once said, “because I’ve lived thousands of lives, not just my own.”

Despite her fame, Claudia refused to be trapped by her image. She turned down nude scenes and controlling contracts, insisting on dignity and self-respect. “Luckily, I never confused myself with the girl in the magazines,” she said. “Otherwise, I would have gone mad.”
In Rome, near the sea she loved, Claudia raised her son Patrick and her daughter Claudia, from her relationship with director Pasquale Squitieri – whom she refused to marry. For her, love could never be locked in a cage.

In 2000, she became a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, championing the rights of women and girls worldwide. Even as she aged, she embraced her wrinkles and rejected the illusion of eternal youth. At almost 80, she graced the official poster of the Cannes Film Festival in 2017, a testament to her timeless beauty and influence.
Her philosophy of life was simple yet profound: “We are so unaccustomed to the truth that even the smallest dose, calmly spoken, can seem insolent.”

Claudia Cardinale passed away on September 23, 2025, in Nemours, surrounded by her children. She leaves behind a treasure trove of 175 films and a blazing legacy that stretches from Tunis to Rome, echoing deep in the hearts of those who were touched by her indomitable spirit.