Gina Lollobrigida, the Italian screen legend known for her post-World War II work through the 1950s and 1960s, has died. She was 95.
Lollobrigida will be remembered as one of the most prominent Italian actresses of her time, starring in films like “Fanfan la Tulipe,” “Beat the Devil,” “Trapeze” and “Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell,” and working with leading men in America like Humphrey Bogart, Rock Hudson, Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis and Frank Sinatra.
Coming from humble beginnings, Lollobrigida was the daughter of a furniture manufacturer in the mountain village of Subiaco, Italy. She began modeling and pursuing acting in the 1940s, and she had a break of sorts after being a finalist in the 1947 competition for Miss Italy.
After working consistently and becoming an Italian cinema mainstay, Lollobrigida never found mainstream footing in Hollywood.
Ever intentional about the acting work she wanted to do, her output of projects slowed through the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s and also included TV projects like “The Love Boat” and “Falcon Crest.” Her final screen credit is listed on IMDb as the 2011 spoof comedy “Box Office 3D: The Filmest of Films,” in which she cameoed as herself.
After taking a step back from the performing arts, the actress found artistic outlets in other ways, proving to be a skilled photographer and sculptor. Filling her time with other interests, Reuters notes that last September saw Lollobrigida pursuing a bid to win a seat in the Italian parliament for a leftist political party at national elections, a bid that she ultimately lost.
Lollobrigida was honored in 2018 with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The news of Lollobrigida’s death at a Rome clinic was confirmed by her former lawyer, Giulia Citani, on Monday and comes via Reuters.