Looking back at the fascinating beauty of young Claudia Cardinale, 1950s-1960s

Claude Josephine Rose "Claudia" Cardinal (born 15 April 1938) is an Italian film actress. He has starred in several acclaimed European films of the 1960s and 1970s, starring in Italian, French and English language films.

Born and raised in La Goulet, a Tunisian neighborhood, Cardinale won the "Most Beautiful Italian Girl in Tunisia" contest in 1957, the award in the form of a trip to Italy, which quickly led to film contracts, topped by Franco's. The partnership led to Cristaldi, who served as his mentor for many years and later married him.

After making her debut in a small role opposite Omar Sharif in Goha (1958), Cardinale became one of Italy's best-known actresses with roles in films such as Rocco and His Brothers (1960), Girl with a Suitcase (1961). Went. Cartouche (1962), The Leopard (1963), and Fellini's 8½ (1963).

From 1963, Cardinal became known in the United States and Britain after his role in The Pink Panther with David Niven. For several years, she appeared in Hollywood films such as Blindfold (1965), Lost Command (1966), The Professionals (1966), Don't Make Waves (1967), Tony Curtis, The Hell with Heroes (1968) and The Hell (1968). Sergio Leone was praised for her role as a former prostitute opposite Jason Robards, Charles Bronson and Henry Fonda in the epic Western Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), a joint US-Italian production.

Outspoken on women's rights issues over the years, Cardinale has been UNESCO's Goodwill Ambassador for the Defense of Women's Rights since March 2000. In February 2011, the Los Angeles Times magazine named Cardinal one of the 50 most beautiful women in film history.