Claudia Cardinale
122 movies · 13 TV shows
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Apr 15, 1938
- Died
- Sep 23, 2025 (age 87)
- Place of birth
- La Goulette, Protectorat français de Tunisie
- Also known as
- Claude Joséphine Rose Cardinale · Claude Cardinale
Biography
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).
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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. ...
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Known for
Claudia Cardinale: movies and TV shows
Acting (134)
- Upcoming
- Upcoming
- 2025
- 2022 The Island of Forgiveness
as Agostina
- 2021
- 2020 Rogue City
as Catarina Bastiani
- 2020
- 2018 Rudy Valentino
as Zia Rosa
- 2017 La Loi de Julien, Le bon fils
as Irène Delamarche
- 2017 Una gita a Roma
as Marguerite
- 2017 Nobili bugie
as Duchess
- 2017
- 2017 Nonnas on the Run
as Angela
- 2016 The Blind and the Cardinal
as 'La Cardinale'
- 2016
- 2016 All Roads Lead to Rome
as Carmen
- 2015 Twice Upon a Time in the West
as Claudia
- 2014 Last Stop
as Rosa
- 2014 The Silent Mountain
as Nuria Calzolari
- 2014 Effie Gray
as Viscountess
- 2013 Joy de V.
as Signora Morosini
- 2012 The Artist and the Model
as Léa
- 2012 Gebo and the Shadow
as Doroteia
- 2012
- 2011
- 2011 Becoming Italian with Signora Enrica
as Signora Enrica
- 2011 Father
as Elvira
- 2010 A View of Love
as La mère de Marc
- 2010 Il giorno della Shoah
as Ester
- 2009
- 2009 The String
as Sara
- 2008 Man & Wife, Cop & Crook
as Cécile Deschamps
- 2007 Cherche fiancé tous frais payés
as Elisabeth
- 2005 The Demon Stirs
as Claudia Cardinale
- 2003 Fellini: I'm a Born Liar
as Claudia (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2002 And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen...
as Madame Falconetti
- 1999 Li chiamarono... briganti!
as Donna Assunta
- 1998 Riches, belles, etc.
as Baroness Mitsy
- 1997
- 1997 Sous les pieds des femmes
as Aya 1996
- 1997 Stupor Mundi
as Costanza d'Altavilla / d'Aragona
- 1997
- 1997 Desert of Fire
as Leila
- 1996 A Summer in La Goulette
as Claudia Cardinale
- 1995
- 1994 Elles ne pensent qu'à ça...
as Margaux
- 1994 Alex et Marie
as Narrator (voice)
- 1993 Son of the Pink Panther
as Maria Gambrelli
- 1993
- 1992 588 rue Paradis
as Araxi (Mayrig) Zakarian
- 1991 Mother
as Araxi (Mayrig) Zakarian
- 1990 Drums of Fire
as Roxelane
- 1990 Act of Sorrow
as Elena
- 1989 Hiver 54, l'abbé Pierre
as Hélène Larmier
- 1989 The French Revolution · TV
as Yolande-Gabrielle de Polastron, duchesse de Polignac (« Les Années Lumière ») · 2 episodes
- 1989 The French Revolution
as Duchesse de Polignac
- 1987 A Man in Love
as Julia Steiner
- 1986
- 1986
- 1985 Woman of Wonders
as Maura
- 1985 Next Summer
as Jeanne
- 1984 Claretta
as Miriam Petacci
- 1984 Henry IV
as Matilda
- 1983
- 1983 The Ruffian
as La « Baronne »
- 1982 Bankers Also Have Souls
as Antonella Dufour
- 1982 Fitzcarraldo
as Molly
- 1982 Famous T & A
as (archive footage)
- 1981 The Skin
as Principessa Consuelo Caracciolo
- 1981 The Salamander
as Elena Leporello
- 1980 Si salvi chi vuole
as Luisa
- 1979 Escape to Athena
as Eleana
- 1978 Corleone
as Rosa Accordino
- 1978 The Gun
as Marta Compagna
- 1978 Little Girl in Blue Velvet
as Francesca Modigliani
- 1978 Fire's Share
as Catherine Hansen
- 1977 Goodbye & Amen
as Aliki
- 1977 I Am the Law
as Anna
- 1977
- 1977 Kolossal - The Magnificent Macisti
as Pauline Bonaparte
- 1976 A Common Sense of Modesty
as Armida Ballarin
- 1975 Blonde in Black Leather
as Claudia
- 1975 Libera, My Love
as Libera Valente
- 1975 Midnight Pleasures
as Gabriella Sansoni
- 1974 Conversation Piece
as Professor's Wife (uncredited)
- 1974 Blood Brothers
as Lucia Esposito
- 1973 One Russian Summer
as Anya
- 1972 The Pariah
as Georgia Saratov
- 1972 The Audience
as Aiche
- 1971 A Girl in Australia
as Carmela
- 1971 The Legend of Frenchie King
as Marie Sarrazin
- 1971 Popsy Pop
as Popsy Pop
- 1970 The Adventures of Gerard
as Teresa, Countess of Morales
- 1969 The Red Tent
as Valeria
- 1969 Diary of a Telephone Operator
as Marta Chiaretti
- 1969 The Conspirators
as Giuditta Di Castro
- 1968 Once Upon a Time in the West
as Jill
- 1968 A Fine Pair
as Esmeralda Marini
- 1968 The Hell with Heroes
as Elena
- 1968 The Day of the Owl
as Rosa Nicolosi
- 1967 Don't Make Waves
as Laura
- 1967 A Rose for Everyone
as Rosa
- 1966 The Professionals
as Maria
- 1966 Blindfold
as Vicky Vicenti
- 1966 Lost Command
as Aisha
- 1966 The Queens
as Armenia ("Fata Armenia")
- 1965 Sandra
as Sandra Dawson
- 1964 The Magnificent Cuckold
as Maria Grazia
- 1964 Time of Indifference
as Carla
- 1964 Circus World
as Toni Alfredo
- 1964 Bebo's Girl
as Mara
- 1963 The Pink Panther
as The Princess Dala
- 1963 The Leopard
as Angelica Sedara / Bastiana
- 1963 8½
as Claudia
- 1962 Careless
as Angiolina Zarri
- 1962 Cartouche
as Vénus
- 1961 Auguste
as Cameo Appearance (uncredited)
- 1961 The Lions Are Loose
as Albertine Ferran
- 1961 The Lovemakers
as Bianca
- 1961 Girl with a Suitcase
as Aida Zepponi
- 1960 Rocco and His Brothers
as Ginetta
- 1960 The Dolphins
as Fedora Santini
- 1960 Austerlitz
as Pauline Bonaparte
- 1960 Il bell'Antonio
as Barbara Puglisi
- 1959 Fiasco in Milan
as Carmelina Nicosia
- 1959 Upstairs and Downstairs
as Maria
- 1959 The Facts of Murder
as La servetta, Assuntina
- 1959 The Magistrate
as Maria
- 1959 Goha
as Amina
- 1959 Venetian Honeymoon
as Angelica
- 1959 South Wind
as Grazia Macri
- 1958 3 Strangers in Rome
as Marisa
- 1958 Big Deal on Madonna Street
as Carmelina
- 1956 Les Anneaux d'Or
as A young woman
Behind the camera (1)
- 1965 Tokyo Olympiad
Thanks
Talk shows and appearances (62)
- Upcoming
- 2022
- 2021
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2019
- 2018
- 2018
- 2017
- 2017
- 2016
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
- 2012
- 2011 The Story of Film: An Odyssey
1 episode
- 2011
- 2011
- 2009
- 2009
- 2008
- 2006
- 2006
- 2004
- 2004
- 2003
- 2003
- 2003
- 2003
- 2002
- 2002
- 2002
- 2001 Ulisse - The Pleasure of Discovery
1 episode
- 2001
- 2000
- 1999
- 1998 Vivement dimanche
5 episodes
- 1997
- 1994
- 1990 Stars 90
1 episode
- 1987 Téléthon
2 episodes
- 1987 Sacrée soirée
4 episodes
- 1985
- 1982
- 1982 Champs-Elysées
3 episodes
- 1978 Ciné regards
1 episode
- 1975 Numéro un
2 episodes
- 1975 Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
2 episodes
- 1975 Midi Première
1 episode
- 1974 Spécial cinéma
1 episode
- 1972 Midi trente
1 episode
- 1971 Samedi soir
1 episode
- 1962 The Merv Griffin Show
1 episode
- 1962 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1 episode
- 1958
- 1956 Cinépanorama
1 episode
- 1954 Reflets de Cannes
2 episodes
- 1953 The Oscars
1 episode
- 1948 Bambi
1 episode