Gina Lollobrigida

Gina Lollobrigida, born Luigia Lollobrigida on 4 July 1927 in Subiaco, Kingdom of Italy, emerged from modest post‑war beginnings to become one of the most iconic European actresses of the 1950s and 1960s. The daughter of a furniture maker, she entered the world of entertainment after World War II, winning third place in the 1947 Miss Italy contest and taking minor film roles in 1946. Her breakthrough arrived with the Italian romantic comedy Pane, amore e fantasia (1953), which earned her a BAFTA nomination and a Nastro d'Argento award. Throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s she starred in international hits such as Trapeze (1956), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1956), Come September (1961) – for which she won a Golden Globe – and Woman of Straw (1964). Renowned for her striking beauty, she was frequently dubbed the most beautiful woman in the world and served as a sex symbol of her era, appearing alongside Hollywood legends like Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Frank Sinatra, and Rock Hudson. Beyond cinema, Lollobrigida cultivated a successful second career as a photojournalist, capturing portraits of Paul Newman, Salvador Dalí, and Fidel Castro, the latter achieved through an exclusive 1974 interview that made international headlines. She published several photographic books, exhibited her sculptures, and supported numerous charitable causes, notably donating nearly US$5 million from a jewelry sale to stem‑cell research. In her later years she remained active in public life, running for the European Parliament in 1999, endorsing Pope Francis on LGBT rights in 2020, and attempting a Senate bid at age 95. Lollobrigida’s longevity made her one of the last surviving stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age; she passed away on 16 January 2023 in Rome, leaving a legacy that spans film, photography, sculpture, and philanthropy.