Happy 75th Birthday to Sophia Loren

Born Sofia Scicolone on September 20, 1934 in Pozuoli, Italy, Sophia Loren grew up in the slums just outside of Naples. After insignificant parts in “Luci del variet” (1950) and “Quo Vadis (1951), she met movie director Carlo Ponti, some 22 years her senior, whom she later married in 1957. Perhaps he was the father figure she never experienced as a child. In 1961, she received an Academy Award for “La ciociara” (aka “Two Women”) (1960). This beautiful lady became one of the major sex symbol of the sixties, competing with Marilyn Monroe, and Brigitte Bardot.

She gained wider respect with her later movies like “The Cassancdra Crossing” (1976), “Una giornata particolare” (1977) and “Prêt-à-Porter” (1994). Many of her films were producer by her husband. She is the mother of actor Carlo Ponti Jr and director, screenwriter Edoardo Ponti. Under her real name she appeared in two early Euro-westerns “The Return of Pancho Villa” (1950) and “The Dream of Zorro” (1951). Today we celebrate the 75th birthday of Sophia Loren.