In a career spanning more than six decades, the enigmatic Claudia Cardinale lit up the screen with her breathtaking presence.

Not planning on becoming one of the greatest actors of the golden age, Cardinale followed the path to stardom, that was oftentimes paved by trauma.

Outliving the now-deceased Hollywood giants that she once shared the screen, and still going strong at 86, she says “cinema saved my life.”

Keep reading to learn more about this starlet and what she’s doing today!

As an iconic actress, Claudia Cardinale has left an indelible mark on Italian and international film. Her talent, beauty, and versatility allowed her to portray a wide range of complex and memorable characters throughout her career.

The Tunisian-born Italian actor was studying to be a teacher when she was discovered at 18. The glossy-haired, French-speaking young woman was taken in by the pageantry of an Italian film festival, when she was pulled from the crowd and crowned Most Beautiful Italian Girl in Tunisia.

“I was helping my mother and people from the Italian government organize an Italian film festival in Tunisia. I was looking at the girls on the stage and I wasn’t supposed to be there. Someone pushed me out on the stage and I was named the Most Beautiful Girl in Tunisia,” she said.

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The prize was a trip to the Venice film festival, a foretelling adventure for the young woman, who received many offers from producers.

Initially turning down the offers, Cardinale explained in an interview, “It’s like a man. When he’s going after you, if you say yes immediately, after a little time he goes away. If you say no, he desires you for a long time.”