Claudia Cardinale (born 15 April 1938) is a Tunisian-born Italian actress who appeared in some of the most prominent European films of the 1960s and 1970s. Notable credits include Luchino Visconti's Rocco and His Brothers (1960) and The Leopard (1963), Philippe de Broca's Cartouche (1963), Federico Fellini's 8½ (1963), and Sergio Leone's epic Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). The majority of Cardinale's films have been either Italian or French.Outspoken on women's rights causes over the years, Cardinale has been a UNESCO goodwill ambassador for the Defense of Women's Rights since March 2000. In February 2011 the Los Angeles Times Magazine named Cardinale among the 50 most beautiful women in film history.
| Full Name | Claudia Cardinale |
| Net Worth | $900,000 |
| Date Of Birth | April 15, 1938 |
| Place Of Birth | Tunis, French Protectorate Tunisia [now Tunisia] |
| Height | 1.73 m |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Profession | Actor |
| Residence | Paris, France |
| Education | Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Spouse | Franco Cristaldi |
| Children | Patrick Cristaldi, Claudia Squitieri |
| Parents | Francesco Cardinale, Yolanda Greco |
| Siblings | Blanche Cardinale |
| Partner | Pasquale Squitieri |
| Nicknames | Claudia Cardinale, Cardinale, Claudia |
| IMDB |
| Awards | Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, David di Donatello for Best Actress, Golden Orange Award for Best Actress (National), Golden Eagle Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to the World Cinema, David di Donatello Special Award, David di Donatello Alitalia Award |
| Nominations | David di Donatello for Best Supporting Actress |
| Movies | Once Upon a Time in the West, The Leopard, 8½, The Professionals, The Pink Panther, Fitzcarraldo, Rocco and His Brothers, Don't Make Waves, Circus World, Girl with a Suitcase, The Legend of Frenchie King, Big Deal on Madonna Street, Sandra of a Thousand Delights, Bell'Antonio, Lost Command, The Art... |
| TV Shows | Jesus of Nazareth, Nostromo |
| Star Sign | Aries |
| # | Quote |
|---|
| 1 | Luchino Visconti wanted me dark-haired, for Federico Fellini I had to be a blonde, I had long hair at the time and kept dyeing it from one to the other. The two directors were completely different, almost hated each other, I think. |
| 2 | I wasn't speaking a word of Italian until I was 18. They had to dub my voice in my first Italian picture! |
| 3 | [on acting] But to do this kind of work, you have to be very strong, otherwise you lose your personality, your identity. You don't know who you are. It's fantastic because I've been living thousands of lives, not only my life. |
| 4 | If you're not English, you're a foreigner - so you must be sexy. It's an old British cliché. |
| 5 | I never felt scandal and confession were necessary to be an actress. I've never revealed myself or even my body in films. Mystery is very important. |
| # | Fact |
|---|
| 1 | Good friends with fellow sex siren Brigitte Bardot. |
| 2 | Famed cinematographer Conrad L. Hall called her "a cameraman's dream - a perfect piece of nature - there is not much you can do wrong in photographing her". |
| 3 | Although one of the great sex sirens of her time, she never appeared in a nude or fully topless scene. |
| 4 | Long considered one of the world's great beauties, she has appeared on more than 900 magazine covers in over 25 countries. |
| 5 | Speaks French, Italian, English, Spanish and Arabic (from having been raised in Tunisia). |
| 6 | Her mentor was her late husband Franco Cristaldi. |
| 7 | Her father was an Italian railroad worker. Despite having an Italian father, she grew up speaking French after her French mother. |
| 8 | Originally intended to become a teacher in Tunis, North Africa. |
| 9 | Preferred to be called by her initials: CC. |
| 10 | Told a reporter she liked a dry martini before dinner, caviar for hors d'oeuvres, lobsters or oysters for seafood, or a steak alla Fiorentina. When it came to wine, her preference was for a rich, red wine (1965). |
| 11 | As she had a deep voice and spoke Italian with a heavy French accent, her voice was dubbed in her early movies. The Pink Panther (1963) was meant to be her first English-speaking role; however, her voice wound up being dubbed. |
| 12 | Has been UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for the Defense of Women's Rights since 1999. |
| 13 | While her longtime companion lives in Rome, she calls Paris her home due to her popularity in France. |
| 14 | Has lived with Pasquale Squitieri since 1975. |
| 15 | Was a member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1993. |
| 16 | She signed a contract forbidding her to cut her hair, marry or gain weight. Because of this, she told everyone that her newborn son (out of wedlock) was her baby brother. She did not reveal to the child that he was her son until he was 19 years old. |
| 17 | At the Italian Embassy in Tunis, she was voted the most beautiful Italian girl in Tunisia. Her prize was a trip to Venice during the Venice Film Festival. After the festival she was offered movie roles, but refused them and returned to Tunis. However, six months later, a producer sold her on a career in movies, and she went to Rome with her parents, two brothers and a sister, taking a home in Castel Giubileo, a small town outside the city (1957). |
| 18 | She has two children: Patrizio, who was born out of wedlock (the father was a mysterious Frenchman) when she was 17 and later adopted by her former husband Franco Cristaldi; and Claudia, whose biological father is her longtime companion Pasquale Squitieri. |
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|
| Piccolina bella | 2017 | announced |
| Niente di Serio | 2017 | post-production | Angela |
| All Roads Lead to Rome | 2015 | Carmen |
| Twice Upon a Time in the West | 2015 | Claudia |
| Effie Gray | 2014 | Viscountess |
| Les Francis | 2014 | Mina |
| Ultima fermata | 2014 | Rosa |
| The Silent Mountain | 2014 | Nuria Calzolari |
| Joy de V. | 2013 | Signora Morosini |
| The Artist and the Model | 2012 | Léa |
| Gebo et l'ombre | 2012 | Doroteia |
| Father | 2011/II | Elvira |
| Un balcon sur la mer | 2010 | La mère de Marc |
| Sinyora Enrica ile Italyan Olmak | 2010 | Signora Enrica |
| Il giorno della Shoah | 2010 | TV Movie | Ester |
| The String | 2009 | Sara |
| Hold-up | 2008 | TV Movie | Cécile |
| Cherche fiancé tous frais payés | 2007 | Elisabeth |
| Le démon de midi | 2005 | Claudia Cardinale |
| And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen... | 2002 | Madame Falconetti |
| Élisabeth - Ils sont tous nos enfants | 2000 | TV Movie | Claude Barde |
| Un café... l'addition | 1999 | Short | Mme Gigi |
| Li chiamarono... briganti! | 1999 | Donna Assunta |
| Riches, belles, etc. | 1998 | La baronne Mitsy |
| Mia, Liebe meines Lebens | 1998 | TV Mini-Series | Mary O'Sullivan |
| Il deserto di fuoco | 1997 | TV Mini-Series | Leila |
| Sous les pieds des femmes | 1997 | Aya 1996 |
| Nostromo | 1996-1997 | TV Mini-Series | Teresa Viola |
| 10-07: L'affaire Zeus | 1995 | TV Series | Agent |
| Elles ne pensent qu' | 1994 | Margaux |
| Son of the Pink Panther | 1993 | Maria Gambrelli |
| Flash - Der Fotoreporter | 1993 | TV Series | Gilda Ricci / Monica Ricci |
| Mother | 1993 | TV Mini-Series | Araxi (Mayrig) |
| Mother | 1992 | Araxi (Mayrig) |
| Mother | 1991 | Araxi (Mayrig) |
| La batalla de los Tres Reyes | 1990 | Roxelane |
| Atto di dolore | 1990 | Elena |
| Hiver 54, l'abbé Pierre | 1989 | Hélène |
| Blu elettrico | 1989 | TV Movie | Tata |
| La révolution française | 1989 | Yolande-Gabrielle de Polastron, duchesse de Polignac (segment "Années Lumière, Les") |
| A Man in Love | 1987 | Julia Steiner |
| History | 1986 | TV Movie | Ida Ramundo |
| Naso di cane | 1986 | TV Mini-Series | Laura |
| Woman of Wonders | 1985 | Maura |
| L'été prochain | 1985 | Jeanne |
| Claretta | 1984 | Claretta Petacci |
| Henry IV | 1984 | Matilda |
| Princess Daisy | 1983 | TV Movie | Anabelle de Fourdemont Valenski |
| Le ruffian | 1983 | La 'baronne' |
| Bankers Also Have Souls | 1982 | Antonella Dufour |
| Fitzcarraldo | 1982 | Molly |
| La pelle | 1981 | Principessa Consuelo Caracciolo |
| The Salamander | 1981 | Elena Leporello |
| Si salvi chi vuole | 1980 |
| Escape to Athena | 1979 | Eleana |
| Corleone | 1978 | Rosa Accordino |
| L'arma | 1978 | Marta Compagna |
| La petite fille en velours bleu | 1978 | Francesca Modigliani |
| Goodbye & Amen | 1978 | Aliki |
| La part du feu | 1978 | Catherine Hansen |
| Il prefetto di ferro | 1977 | Anna Torrisi |
| Jesus of Nazareth | 1977 | TV Mini-Series | The Adultress
The Adulteress |
| Il comune senso del pudore | 1976 | Armida Ballarin |
| Blonde in Black Leather | 1975 | Claudia |
| Libera, amore mio! | 1975 | Libera Valente |
| The Immortal Bachelor | 1975 | Gabriella Sansoni |
| Conversation Piece | 1974 | Moglie del professore (uncredited) |
| I guappi | 1974 | Lucia Esposito |
| Fury | 1973 | Anya |
| Scoumoune | 1972 | Georgia Saratov |
| L'udienza | 1972 | Aiche |
| Bello onesto emigrato Australia sposerebbe compaesana illibata | 1971 | Carmela |
| Frenchie King | 1971 | Marie Sarrazin |
| Popsy Pop | 1971 | Popsy Pop |
| The Adventures of Gerard | 1970 | Teresa, Countess of Morales |
| The Red Tent | 1969 | Nurse Valeria |
| Certain, Very Certain, As a Matter of Fact... Probable | 1969 | Marta CHiaretti |
| Nell'anno del Signore | 1969 | Giuditta Di Castro |
| La amante estelar | 1968 | Short |
| Once Upon a Time in the West | 1968 | Jill McBain |
| A Fine Pair | 1968 | Esmeralda Marini |
| The Hell with Heroes | 1968 | Elena |
| Il giorno della civetta | 1968 | Rosa Nicolosi |
| Don't Make Waves | 1967 | Laura Califatti |
| A Rose for Everyone | 1967 | Rosa |
| The Queens | 1966 | Armenia (segment "Fata Armenia") |
| The Professionals | 1966 | Maria |
| Lost Command | 1966 | Aicha |
| Blindfold | 1965 | Vicky Vincenti |
| Sandra | 1965 | Sandra Dawdson |
| The Magnificent Cuckold | 1964 | Maria Grazia |
| Time of Indifference | 1964 | Carla |
| Circus World | 1964 | Toni Alfredo |
| Bebo's Girl | 1964 | Mara |
| The Pink Panther | 1963 | The Princess |
| The Leopard | 1963 | Angelica Sedara
Bertiana |
| 8½ | 1963 | Claudia |
| Cartouche | 1962 | Vénus |
| Careless | 1962 | Angiolina Zarri |
| Auguste | 1961 | Cameo appearance (uncredited) |
| The Lions Are Loose | 1961 | Albertine Ferran |
| La viaccia | 1961 | Bianca |
| Girl with a Suitcase | 1961 | Aida Zepponi |
| Rocco and His Brothers | 1960 | Ginetta |
| Silver Spoon Set | 1960 | Fedora |
| The Battle of Austerlitz | 1960 | Pauline Bonaparte |
| Bell' Antonio | 1960 | Barbara Puglisi |
| Vento del Sud | 1959 | Grazia Macri |
| Audace colpo dei soliti ignoti | 1959 | Carmela Nicosia |
| The Facts of Murder | 1959 | Assuntina Jacovacci |
| Upstairs and Downstairs | 1959 | Maria |
| Il magistrato | 1959 | Maria |
| Anneaux d'or | 1959 | Short |
| La prima notte | 1959 | Angelica |
| 3 straniere a Roma | 1958 | Marisa |
| Big Deal on Madonna Street | 1958 | Carmelina |
| Goha | 1958 | Amina (as Claude Cardinal) |
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|
| Les enfants de la guerre | 1996 | TV Movie | Herself |
| Speciale mastroianni - il fascino della normalit | 1996 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
| A Summer in La Goulette | 1996 | Herself |
| Àngels de nit | 1996 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Joyeux anniversaire Monsieur Trenet | 1995 | TV Movie | Herself |
| Le divan | 1993 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Ben Webster: The Brute and the Beautiful | 1990 | Documentary |
| Champs-Elysées | 1983-1989 | TV Series | Herself |
| Night of 100 Stars II | 1985 | TV Movie | Herself |
| Mardi cinéma | 1983 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Stelle emigranti | 1982 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
| Burden of Dreams | 1982 | Documentary | Molly / Herself |
| Numéro 1 | 1977-1978 | TV Series | Herself - Host / Herself |
| Circus of the Stars | 1977 | TV Special documentary | Herself - Performer |
| Gala de l'union | 1976 | TV Series | Herself |
| Les rendez-vous du dimanche | 1976 | TV Series | Herself |
| Sacha show | 1971 | TV Series | Herself |
| The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | 1963-1971 | TV Series | Herself - Guest / Herself |
| The 42nd Annual Academy Awards | 1970 | TV Special | Herself - Presenter: Best Film Editing & Best Foreign Film |
| Rom aktuell | 1969 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Hinter der Leinwand | 1966-1967 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Claudia Cardinale | 1965 | Documentary short | Herself |
| The 37th Annual Academy Awards | 1965 | TV Special | Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Sound |
| Pariser Journal | 1964 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| La grande farandole | 1962 | TV Series | Herself |
| Cinépanorama | 1962 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Reflets de Cannes | 1961 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Algérie en flammes | 1958 | Documentary short | Arab woman (uncredited) |
| Belmondo par Belmondo | 2016 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
| Alfredo Bini, ospite inatteso | 2015 | Documentary | Herself |
| Un jour, un destin | 2014 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Un jour, une histoire | 2014 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Vivement dimanche | 2000-2013 | TV Series | Herself / Herself - Guest / Herself - Main guest |
| Alberto il grande | 2013 | Herself |
| L'insolito ignoto - Vita acrobatica di Tiberio Murgia | 2012 | Documentary |
| Alguna pregunta més? | 2012 | TV Series | Herself |
| Días de cine | 2012 | TV Series | Herself |
| Ceská Miss 2012 | 2012 | TV Movie | Herself - Judge |
| VIP zprávy | 2012 | TV Series | Herself |
| HARDtalk | 2011 | TV Series | Herself |
| The Story of Film: An Odyssey | 2011 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Herself - Interviewee |
| Els matins a TV3 | 2011 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Belmondo, itinéraire... | 2011 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
| Jetset in den Sixties - Das süße Leben der Schönen und Reichen | 2010 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
| Café Picouly | 2010 | TV Series | Herself |
| Thé ou café | 1997-2010 | TV Series | Herself |
| My Swinging Sixties - Gottschalks Zeitreise | 2010 | TV Movie | Herself |
| Spur der Bären | 2010 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
| Paris dernière | 2010 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Cinémas | 2009 | TV Series | Herself |
| L'abito e il volto | 2009 | Documentary | Herself |
| Pietro Germi - Il bravo, il bello, il cattivo | 2009 | Documentary | Herself |
| La traversée du désir | 2009 | Documentary | Herself |
| 2009 Women's World Awards | 2009 | TV Special | Herself |
| Bambi Verleihung 2008 | 2008 | TV Movie | Herself - Presenter: Lifetime Achievement Award |
| Déborah, une force jusqu'au bout | 2008 | Video documentary | Herself |
| Marcello, una vita dolce | 2006 | Documentary | Herself |
| Denn sie kennen kein Erbarmen - Der Italowestern | 2006 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
| Sergio Leone: The Way I See Things | 2006 | Documentary | Herself |
| La nuit des Césars | 1977-2006 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Essere Claudia Cardinale | 2005 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
| L'hebdo cinéma | 2005 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Corazón de... | 2005 | TV Series | Herself |
| La nuit des Molières | 2005 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Memories from 'The Professionals' | 2005 | Video documentary short | Herself |
| The Professionals: A Classic | 2005 | Video documentary short | Herself |
| On a tout essayé | 2005 | TV Series | Herself |
| En aparté | 2005 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Tout le monde en parle | 2005 | TV Series | Herself |
| A Dying Breed: The Making of 'The Leopard' | 2004 | Video documentary | Herself |
| An Opera of Violence | 2003 | Video documentary short | Herself |
| Something to Do with Death | 2003 | Video documentary short | Herself |
| The Wages of Sin | 2003 | Video documentary short | Herself |
| L'ultima sequenza | 2003 | Documentary | Herself |
| Visconti | 2002 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
| Film Genre | 2002 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Cannes: Through the Eyes of the Hunter | 2001 | Documentary short | Herself |
| Vamps et femmes fatales du cinéma européen | 2001 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
| Visconti: La verdad del melodrama | 2001 | TV Movie | Herself |
| Vivement dimanche prochain | 2000 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Les enfants de la télé | 1997-2000 | TV Series | Herself |
| Comme au cinéma | 1999 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Luchino Visconti | 1999 | Documentary | Herself |
| Mein liebster Feind - Klaus Kinski | 1999 | Documentary | Herself |
| ¿Qué apostamos? | 1998 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Lignes de mire | 1998 | TV Series | Herself |
| Stars'N Co | 1998 | TV Series | Herself |
| L'uomo dal sigaro in bocca | 1997 | Documentary short | Herself |
| Cannes... les 400 coups | 1997 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
| Cinema 3 | 1997 | TV Series | Herself |
| Gianni Di Venanzo, un grande autore della fotografia | 1996 | Documentary short | Herself |
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|
| 2015 | Lifetime Achievement Award | Jameson CineFest - Miskolc International Film Festival |
| 2014 | Career Golden Globe | Golden Globes, Italy |
| 2014 | Tribute Plate | Lecce Festival of European Cinema |
| 2014 | Taormina Arte Award | Taormina International Film Festival |
| 2013 | Honorary Lumiere Award | Lumiere Awards, France | For her body of work |
| 2012 | Leon Cakoff Prize | São Paulo International Film Festival |
| 2011 | Sofia Municipality Award | Sofia International Film Festival |
| 2010 | Golden Orange | Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival | Best Actress | Sinyora Enrica ile Italyan Olmak (2010) |
| 2010 | Silver Medallion Award | Telluride Film Festival, US |
| 2010 | Lifetime Achievement Award | Yerevan International Film Festival |
| 2009 | Lifetime Achievement Award | Transilvania International Film Festival |
| 2009 | Lifetime Achievement Award | Transilvania International Film Festival |
| 2003 | European Actors Award | Filmfest Ludwigsburg |
| 2002 | Honorary Golden Berlin Bear | Berlin International Film Festival |
| 2002 | Platinum Award for Cinematic Excellence | Viareggio EuropaCinema |
| 2000 | European Silver Ribbon | Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists | For her international success. |
| 1998 | Career Award | Flaiano International Prizes | Cinema |
| 1997 | Career David | David di Donatello Awards |
| 1993 | Career Golden Lion | Venice Film Festival |
| 1992 | Career Goblet | Golden Goblets, Italy |
| 1991 | Golden Globe | Golden Globes, Italy | Best Actress (Migliore Attrice) | Atto di dolore (1990) |
| 1990 | Prix du Festival | Montréal World Film Festival | For "Best Achievement in Cinema". |
| 1988 | Alitalia Award | David di Donatello Awards |
| 1985 | Golden Globe | Golden Globes, Italy | Best Actress (Migliore Attrice) | Claretta (1984) |
| 1985 | Silver Ribbon | Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists | Best Actress (Migliore Attrice Protagonista) | Claretta (1984) |
| 1984 | Pasinetti Award | Venice Film Festival | Best Actress | Claretta (1984) |
| 1982 | Silver Ribbon | Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists | Best Supporting Actress (Migliore Attrice Non Protagonista) | La pelle (1981) |
| 1972 | David | David di Donatello Awards | Best Actress (Migliore Attrice) | Bello onesto emigrato Australia sposerebbe compaesana illibata (1971) |
| 1968 | David | David di Donatello Awards | Best Actress (Migliore Attrice) | Il giorno della civetta (1968) |
| 1965 | Silver Ribbon | Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists | Best Actress (Migliore Attrice Protagonista) | La ragazza di Bube (1964) |
| 1964 | Golden Goblet | Golden Goblets, Italy | Best Actress (Migliore Attrice) | La ragazza di Bube (1964) |
| 1961 | Special David | David di Donatello Awards | La ragazza con la valigia (1961) |
| 1961 | Golden Orange | Taormina International Film Festival |
