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.
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.
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0001012
Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107006
Facebook: https://facebook.com/TheClaudiaCardinale
Instagram: https://instagram.com/claudiacardinaleofficiel
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Filmography (Movies)
The Life of Mirrors
Character:
Release Date:13/07/2025
The Island of Forgiveness
Character:Agostina
Release Date:17/11/2022
Claudia la mystérieuse
Character:Self
Release Date:07/03/2022
We Are Cinema
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:16/12/2021
Fellinopolis
Character:Self - Actress (archive footage)
Release Date:10/06/2021
Rogue City
Character:Catarina Bastiani
Release Date:30/10/2020
Nana Mouskouri, Momente ihres Lebens
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:03/04/2020
Claudia Cardinale, la créature du secret
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:31/12/2019
Gina, Sophia, Claudia, trois symboles de la féminité à l'italienne
Character:Self
Release Date:13/01/2019
Sergio Leone, une Amérique de légende
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:16/12/2018
Rudy Valentino
Character:Zia Rosa
Release Date:24/05/2018
Dios de monoambiente
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:01/01/2018
La Loi de Julien, Le bon fils
Character:Irène Delamarche
Release Date:29/08/2017
An Italian Indian: The Pink Panther Princess With Claudia Cardinale
Character:Self
Release Date:27/06/2017
Una gita a Roma
Character:Marguerite
Release Date:04/05/2017
Nobili bugie
Character:Duchess
Release Date:24/04/2017
La Folle Histoire de Jean-Paul Belmondo
Character:Self
Release Date:01/01/2017
Nonnas on the Run
Character:Angela
Release Date:01/01/2017
Luchino Visconti: Between Truth and Passion
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:15/11/2016
The Blind and the Cardinal
Character:'La Cardinale'
Release Date:01/11/2016
Belmondo by Belmondo
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:05/05/2016
All Roads Lead to Rome
Character:Carmen
Release Date:14/01/2016
Twice Upon a Time in the West
Character:Claudia
Release Date:07/10/2015
Marcello Mastroianni, latin lover
Character:Self
Release Date:01/01/2015
Cinéma Jacques Perrin
Character:Self
Release Date:31/12/2014
Last Stop
Character:Rosa
Release Date:16/06/2014
The Silent Mountain
Character:Nuria Calzolari
Release Date:14/03/2014
Effie Gray
Character:Viscountess
Release Date:08/03/2014
Alberto il grande
Character:Self
Release Date:16/02/2013
Joy de V.
Character:Signora Morosini
Release Date:20/01/2013
The Artist and the Model
Character:Léa
Release Date:28/09/2012
Gebo and the Shadow
Character:Doroteia
Release Date:10/09/2012
The Years of Lost Images
Character:Self
Release Date:12/07/2012
Monicelli: La versione di Mario
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:30/01/2012
Hollywood Invasion
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:01/09/2011
Belmondo, itinéraire...
Character:Self
Release Date:18/05/2011
Becoming Italian with Signora Enrica
Character:Signora Enrica
Release Date:18/02/2011
Father
Character:Elvira
Release Date:25/01/2011
A View of Love
Character:La mère de Marc
Release Date:15/12/2010
Il giorno della Shoah
Character:Ester
Release Date:27/01/2010
Pietro Germi - The Good, The Beautiful and The Bad
Character:Self
Release Date:06/12/2009
The String
Character:Sara
Release Date:12/05/2009
La Traversée du désir
Character:Self
Release Date:16/03/2009
Il falso bugiardo
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:03/07/2008
Man & Wife, Cop & Crook
Character:Cécile Deschamps
Release Date:28/05/2008
Cherche fiancé tous frais payés
Character:Elisabeth
Release Date:27/06/2007
Marcello, una vita dolce
Character:Self
Release Date:21/05/2006
Sergio Leone: The Way I See Things
Character:Self
Release Date:08/03/2006
The Demon Stirs
Character:Claudia Cardinale
Release Date:22/06/2005
A Dying Breed: The Making of 'The Leopard'
Character:Self
Release Date:08/06/2004
Por un puñado de sueños
Character:Self - Interviewee
Release Date:01/01/2004
An Opera of Violence
Character:Self - Actress
Release Date:18/11/2003
The Wages of Sin
Character:Self - Actress
Release Date:18/11/2003
Something to Do with Death
Character:Self - Actress
Release Date:18/11/2003
The Last Sequence
Character:Self
Release Date:22/04/2003
Fellini: I'm a Born Liar
Character:Claudia (archive footage) (uncredited)
Release Date:02/04/2003
Luchino Visconti
Character:Self
Release Date:23/06/2002
And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen...
Character:Madame Falconetti
Release Date:29/05/2002
The Magic of Fellini
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:27/01/2002
Visconti: La verdad del melodrama
Character:Self
Release Date:12/03/2001
Once Upon a Time: Sergio Leone
Character:Self
Release Date:01/01/2000
Li chiamarono... briganti!
Character:Donna Assunta
Release Date:28/05/1999
My Best Fiend
Character:Self
Release Date:17/05/1999
Riches, belles, etc.
Character:Baroness Mitsy
Release Date:21/01/1998
Stupor Mundi
Character:Costanza d'Altavilla / d'Aragona
Release Date:15/09/1997
The Man with the Cigar in His Mouth
Character:Self
Release Date:06/08/1997
Desert of Fire
Character:Leila
Release Date:01/01/1997
A Summer in La Goulette
Character:Self
Release Date:25/12/1996
Elles ne pensent qu'à ça...
Character:Margaux
Release Date:16/03/1994
Alex et Marie
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:01/01/1994
Il gattopardo: Viaggio della memoria
Character:Self
Release Date:01/01/1994
Son of the Pink Panther
Character:Maria Gambrelli
Release Date:27/08/1993
588 rue Paradis
Character:Araxi (Mayrig) Zakarian
Release Date:14/01/1992
Mother
Character:Araxi (Mayrig) Zakarian
Release Date:27/11/1991
Drums of Fire
Character:Roxelane
Release Date:21/12/1990
Act of Sorrow
Character:Elena
Release Date:30/08/1990
Hiver 54, l'abbé Pierre
Character:Hélène Larmier
Release Date:31/10/1989
The French Revolution
Character:Duchesse de Polignac
Release Date:10/05/1989
A Man in Love
Character:Julia Steiner
Release Date:07/05/1987
Naso di cane
Character:Laura
Release Date:11/12/1986
Woman of Wonders
Character:Maura
Release Date:06/09/1985
Night of 100 Stars II
Character:Self
Release Date:10/03/1985
Next Summer
Character:Jeanne
Release Date:09/01/1985
Claretta
Character:Miriam Petacci
Release Date:31/05/1984
Henry IV
Character:Matilda
Release Date:24/05/1984
The Ruffian
Character:La 'baronne'
Release Date:12/01/1983
Burden of Dreams
Character:Self - Actress
Release Date:01/10/1982
Bankers Also Have Souls
Character:Antonella Dufour
Release Date:24/03/1982
Fitzcarraldo
Character:Molly
Release Date:02/03/1982
Famous T & A
Character:(archive footage)
Release Date:01/01/1982
The Skin
Character:Principessa Consuelo Caracciolo
Release Date:27/08/1981
The Salamander
Character:Elena Leporello
Release Date:25/04/1981
Si salvi chi vuole
Character:Luisa
Release Date:04/04/1980
Escape to Athena
Character:Eleana
Release Date:21/05/1979
Corleone
Character:Rosa Accordino
Release Date:10/11/1978
The Gun
Character:Marta Compagna
Release Date:07/09/1978
Little Girl in Blue Velvet
Character:Francesca Modigliani
Release Date:23/08/1978
Fire's Share
Character:Catherine Hansen
Release Date:04/01/1978
Goodbye & Amen
Character:Aliki
Release Date:23/12/1977
I Am the Law
Character:Anna
Release Date:23/09/1977
Kolossal - The Magnificent Macisti
Character:Pauline Bonaparte
Release Date:01/01/1977
A Common Sense of Modesty
Character:Armida Ballarin
Release Date:09/03/1976
Blonde in Black Leather
Character:Claudia
Release Date:17/09/1975
Libera, My Love
Character:Libera Valente
Release Date:21/03/1975
Midnight Pleasures
Character:Gabriella Sansoni
Release Date:19/02/1975
Conversation Piece
Character:Professor's Wife (uncredited)
Release Date:20/12/1974
Blood Brothers
Character:Lucia Esposito
Release Date:23/02/1974
One Russian Summer
Character:Anya
Release Date:01/01/1973
The Pariah
Character:Georgia Saratov
Release Date:12/12/1972
The Audience
Character:Aiche
Release Date:31/03/1972
A Girl in Australia
Character:Carmela
Release Date:22/12/1971
The Legend of Frenchie King
Character:Marie Sarrazin
Release Date:16/12/1971
Popsy Pop
Character:Popsy Pop
Release Date:10/03/1971
The Adventures of Gerard
Character:Teresa, Countess of Morales
Release Date:03/07/1970
The Red Tent
Character:Valeria
Release Date:23/12/1969
Diary of a Telephone Operator
Character:Marta Chiaretti
Release Date:06/11/1969
The Conspirators
Character:Giuditta Di Castro
Release Date:24/10/1969
Once Upon a Time in the West
Character:Jill
Release Date:21/12/1968
A Fine Pair
Character:Esmeralda Marini
Release Date:27/09/1968
The Hell with Heroes
Character:Elena
Release Date:28/08/1968
The Day of the Owl
Character:Rosa Nicolosi
Release Date:17/02/1968
Don't Make Waves
Character:Laura
Release Date:20/06/1967
A Rose for Everyone
Character:Rosa
Release Date:18/01/1967
The Professionals
Character:Maria
Release Date:01/11/1966
Blindfold
Character:Vicky Vicenti
Release Date:23/05/1966
Lost Command
Character:Aisha
Release Date:01/05/1966
The Queens
Character:Armenia ("Fata Armenia")
Release Date:21/04/1966
Sandra
Character:Sandra Dawson
Release Date:16/09/1965
The Magnificent Cuckold
Character:Maria Grazia
Release Date:19/10/1964
Time of Indifference
Character:Carla
Release Date:24/09/1964
Circus World
Character:Toni Alfredo
Release Date:25/06/1964
Bebo's Girl
Character:Mara
Release Date:24/01/1964
The Pink Panther
Character:The Princess Dala
Release Date:18/12/1963
The Leopard
Character:Angelica Sedara / Bastiana
Release Date:27/03/1963
8½
Character:Claudia
Release Date:14/02/1963
Careless
Character:Angiolina Zarri
Release Date:08/03/1962
Cartouche
Character:Vénus
Release Date:07/03/1962
Auguste
Character:Cameo Appearance (uncredited)
Release Date:24/10/1961
The Lions Are Loose
Character:Albertine Ferran
Release Date:20/09/1961
The Lovemakers
Character:Bianca
Release Date:13/06/1961
Girl with a Suitcase
Character:Aida Zepponi
Release Date:09/02/1961
Rocco and His Brothers
Character:Ginetta
Release Date:07/10/1960
The Dolphins
Character:Fedora Santini
Release Date:05/10/1960
The Battle of Austerlitz
Character:Pauline Bonaparte
Release Date:17/06/1960
Il bell'Antonio
Character:Barbara Puglisi
Release Date:04/03/1960
Fiasco in Milan
Character:Carmelina Nicosia
Release Date:19/12/1959
Upstairs and Downstairs
Character:Maria
Release Date:02/11/1959
The Facts of Murder
Character:La servetta, Assuntina
Release Date:24/10/1959
The Magistrate
Character:Maria
Release Date:07/10/1959
Goha
Character:Amina
Release Date:06/05/1959
Venetian Honeymoon
Character:Angelica
Release Date:27/02/1959
South Wind
Character:Grazia Macri
Release Date:01/01/1959
3 Strangers in Rome
Character:Marisa
Release Date:02/11/1958
Big Deal on Madonna Street
Character:Carmelina
Release Date:26/07/1958
Algeria in Flames
Character:Self - Arab woman (uncredited)
Release Date:02/01/1958
Les Anneaux d'Or
Character:A young woman
Release Date:01/01/1956
Television Appearances
Bulle
Character:Marthe
Il bello delle donne... alcuni anni dopo
Character:Laura Banti
Mia, Liebe meines Lebens
Character:Mary O'Sullivan
The Story of Film: An Odyssey
Character:Self
Ulisse - Il piacere della scoperta
Character:Self
Vivement dimanche
Character:Self
Desert of Fire
Character:Leila
Nostromo
Character:Teresa Viola
10-07: L'affaire Zeus
Character:Agent
Flash – Der Fotoreporter
Character:Gilda Ricci / Monica Ricci
Stars 90
Character:Self
The French Revolution
Character:Yolande-Gabrielle de Polastron, duchesse de Polignac (« Les Années Lumière »)
Téléthon
Character:Self
Sacrée Soirée
Character:Self
History
Character:Ida Mancuso
Princess Daisy
Character:Annabelle de Fourdemont Valensky
Champs-Elysées
Character:Self
Jesus of Nazareth
Character:The Adulteress
Numéro un
Character:Self
Numéro un
Character:Self - Host
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Character:Self
Midi Première
Character:Self
Spécial cinéma
Character:Self
Midi trente
Character:Self
Samedi soir
Character:Self
The Merv Griffin Show
Character:Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Character:Self
Cinépanorama
Character:Self
Reflets de Cannes
Character:Self
The Oscars
Character:Self
Bambi
Character:Self
Images
