She was one of the highest-profile European actresses of the s and s, a period in which she was an international sex symbol. Dubbed "the most beautiful woman in the world", [ 4 ] at the time of her death she was among the last surviving high-profile international actors from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema. As her film career slowed, Lollobrigida established a second career as a photojournalist.
In the s she achieved a scoop by gaining access to Fidel Castro for an exclusive interview. Luigia Lollobrigida was born in Subiaco , Lazio , about 64 kilometres 40 mi from Rome , the daughter of a furniture maker and his wife. After the end of World War II in , the family moved to Rome, where Lollobrigida took singing lessons, did some modelling, and participated in several beauty contests, placing third in the Miss Italy contest.
In , she began appearing in Italian films in minor roles. In at age 18, Lollobrigida played a part in the comedy Santarellina by Eduardo Scarpetta at the Teatro della Concordia of Monte Castello di Vibio , [ 9 ] the smallest theatre all'italiana in the world.
In , Howard Hughes signed Lollobrigida on a preliminary seven-year contract to make three pictures a year. She refused the final terms of the contract, preferring to remain in Europe, and Hughes suspended her. The dispute prevented her from working in American movies filmed in the U.
Her performance in the Italian romantic comedy Bread, Love and Dreams Pane, amore e fantasia , led to its becoming a box-office success [ 11 ] and her receiving a BAFTA nomination. Brynner had been chosen to substitute for Tyrone Power , who died before the shots were completed.
