In 2017, Cardinale opened up to Enzo Biagi, an Italian journalist, and shared with him the violent truth behind her pregnancy, “A man I didn’t know, much older than me, forced me to go up to car and raped me. It was terrible, but the most beautiful thing is that my wonderful Patrick was born from that violence. In fact, although it was a very complicated situation for a single mother, I decided not to have an abortion.”
She continued, “When that man learned of my pregnancy, he came back, demanding that I have an abortion. Not even for a moment did I think of getting rid of my creature!”
Speaking of Cristaldi, who controlled her life, Cardinale said, “With him I was practically an employee, a subordinate who was paid a month for the four films I made a year: I didn’t even call him by name, but by surname. I felt hostage, my father and mother were furious…Because I wasn’t in love, he was the one with me. In short, Cristaldi was certainly a great producer, but on a private level… better to overlook it.”
Her dysfunctional relationship with Cristaldi, whom she left in 1975, didn’t slow down her career.
The natural beauty, who made her debut in the French-Tunisian film Goha with Omar Sharif, quickly earned the reputation as one Italy’s best actors. She then had leading roles in Rocco and his Brothers (1960), and in 1963 she starred in the Oscar-winning film 8½ with Marcello Mastroianni, and The Leopard with Burt Lancaster. Both films, where she played a seemingly unattainable object of desire, are praised by the award-winning director Martin Scorsese as two of his top 12 favorites.
‘Italian Brigitte Bardot’
Gaining traction in Hollywood, she starred alongside David Nivens in The Pink Panther and then shared the screen with legends like John Wayne and Rita Hayworth in 1964’s Circus World.
Credit: Shutterstock
Lauded for her portrayal of a prostitute in the U.S.-Italian film Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), Cardinale co-starred with icons Henry Fonda, Jason Robards and Charles Bronson.
But audiences enjoyed seeing Cardinale, dubbed the Italian Brigitte Bardot, with the real Bardot–her friend and rival–in 1971’s The Legend of Frenchie King. What set her apart from Bardot? She said she never appeared nude in a film, “I always thought it was more erotic to leave some room to imagination, hinting at things rather than showing everything.”
Working in Hollywood was both successful and stressful. In a Life article, that referred to her as “the most admired international film star since Sophia Loren,” Cardinale revealed that she wanted out of the patriarchal Hollywood system. Speaking to the lower salary in Europe, Cardinale said, “If I have to give up the money, I give it up. I do not want to become a cliché.”
‘You cannot stop time’
Though her career slowed down, Cardinale said she is happy to have stepped away from the sexualized spotlight.
“When I was young, my dream was to explore the world. And I did it. I was never naked and I never did anything to change my face. I don’t like that at all. I like to be what I am, because you cannot stop time,” Cardinale said.
Cardinale married Italian director, Pasquale Squitieri in 1975 and was with him until his death in 2017. The pair have one daughter, Claudia.
In 2022, Cardinale addressed rumors that she was involuntarily hospitalized. Living in France, she said “I’m next to my family, I’m in full health. And I wish everyone a happy summer.”
Today, Cardinale is heavily involved with UNESCO as the goodwill ambassador for the Defence of Women’s Rights.
Claudia Cardinale had quite a life, filled with trauma and successes. It’s great to see that she’s empowering other women with her story, and we hope that she continues in good health. What’s your favorite Cardinale film?
Leave a Comment