From her father’s rejection to global success: interesting facts about Sophia Loren, who turns 90

An absolute star of Italian and international cinema with almost a hundred films under her belt, Sophia Loren has also always been a style icon. The actress, who celebrates her 90th birthday this Friday (20), worked practically her entire life with renowned designers, setting trends that influenced fashion from the 1960s onwards.

The beautiful artist born in Rome never questioned her voluptuous figure in adulthood (she was very thin as a child and was bullied for it). She always enjoyed cooking and eating well. “Everything you see, I owe to spaghetti” is one of her most memorable phrases. Sophia also showed off her hairy armpits for years, an attitude that helped establish her as an example of female self-esteem. She even stood out in beauty contests, such as Miss Eleganza, at the age of 16.

Her love life also has its curious episodes. In the 1960s, she married film producer Carlo Ponti. The relationship lasted four decades and overcame some obstacles, including the rejection of the Catholic Church because of Ponti’s first marriage — his ex-wife had not signed the divorce papers.

From this union came two sons, Carlo and Edoardo, who directed his mother in her last feature film, the touching “Rosa and Momo” (Netflix), in 2020.

In addition to her personal and professional achievements (two Oscars, two Golden Globes, a Golden Lion at Venice, and so on), Loren is widely recognized for her impact on pop culture and film. With numerous awards under her belt, she has not only broken barriers in the film industry, but has also become an advocate for women’s representation in the workplace.