Gina Lollobrigida (born July 4, 1927 in Subiaco, Italy), is a Golden Globe Award-winning Italian actress and photojournalist. She was one of Italy's most prominent actresses of the 1950s and early 1960s.

Born Luigina Lollobrigida, she was one of four daughters of a furniture manufacturer (her sisters are Giuliana, Maria and Fernanda). She spent her youth in a picturesque mountain village. In her youth, Gina did some modelling, and from there she went to participate successfully in several beauty contests. At around this time, she began appearing in Italian language films. In 1947, Gina entered the Miss Italia pageant and came in 3rd place. The contest was won by Lucia Bosé and second place was Gianna Maria Canale - they would both go on to be actresses, though neither would come near Lollobrigida's success

Films

Her appearance in Italian films brought her to the attention of Hollywood and she made her first American film, Beat the Devil, in 1953. As her popularity increased, Lollobrigida earned the nickname The World's Most Beautiful Woman after her signature 1955 movie.

She made another notable appearance in Trapeze with Burt Lancaster in 1956 and starred in The Hunchback of Notre Dame the same year. In 1959 she co-starred with Frank Sinatra in Never So Few and with Yul Brynner in Solomon and Sheba. The latter was notable for having Brynner replace Tyrone Power (who died during filming), for being the last film directed by King Vidor, and for an orgy scene extremely licentious for Hollywood motion pictures of that era.

In 1961 she made one of her most popular films, Come September, with Rock Hudson, for which she won the Golden Globe as "World Film Favorite." She co-starred with him again in 1965's Strange Bedfellows and appeared alongside Alec Guinness in 1966's Hotel Paradiso. In 1968 she starred in the enjoyable Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell with Shelley Winters, Phil Silvers, and Telly Savalas, the plot of which is the basis for the stage musical Mamma Mia!. For this role she was nominated for a Golden Globe.

Lollobrigida co-starred with Bob Hope in the comedy The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell and also accompanied Hope on his visits to military troops overseas.

By the 1970s her film career had wound down. She appeared in only a few poorly received productions in the early part of the decade. In the mid 80's, she starred in "Falcon Crest" as Francesca Gioberthi, a role originally written for Sophia Loren who turned it down.

In 1986, she was the head of jury at the Berlin International Film Festival. She made a few minor film appearances in the 1990s.

[edit] Photojournalism

By the end of the 1970s she had embarked on what turned out to be a successful career as a photographic journalist. She photographed, among others, Paul Newman, Salvador Dalí and the German national football team and scooped the world's press by obtaining an exclusive interview with Fidel Castro. In 1973 a collection of her work was published, Italia Mia.

[edit] Other interests

She has focused on other interests such as sculpting and it was 1984 before she returned to American television screens with a part in Falcon Crest. She was also a corporate executive for fashion and cosmetics companies.

[edit] Political activism

In 1999 she ran unsuccessfully for one of Italy's 87 seats in the elections for European Parliament with the center-left party The Democrats.

[edit] Personal life

In 1949 she married a Slovenian physician, Mirko Skofic. They had one child, Mirko Skofic jr, and were divorced in 1971.

In 1969 she was shortly engaged to George Kaufman, a New York real estate heir.

In October 2006, at age 79, she announced to Spain's ¡Hola! magazine her engagement to a 45-year-old Spanish businessman, Javier Rigau y Rafols, whom she met at a party in Monte Carlo in 1984 and who has been her companion since then. [1]. The engagement was called off on December 6, 2006, reportedly due to media pressure [2].

Now virtually retired, Lollobrigida has not made a film since 1997. She told PARADE in April 2000:

“ I studied painting and sculpting at school and became an actress by mistake .... I've had many lovers and still have romances. I am very spoiled. All my life, I've had too many admirers. ”

[edit] Awards

Lollobrigida has won 4 David di Donatello, 3 Nastro d'Argento, and 6 Bambi Awards; she was nominated three times for the Golden Globe and won one in 1961 as World's favourite star.

She has been awarded the Légion d’Honneur by François Mitterrand.

Thanks for starting the thread, Lisa! Although I've never been a big fan of her, she deserves it!

Filmography from imdb.com ...

Actress:

1. XXL (1997) .... Gaby Berrebi

2. Donna in fuga, Una (1996)

3. Cent et une nuits de Simon Cinéma, Les (1995) .... L'épouse médium du professeur Bébel

... aka A Hundred and One Nights

... aka A Hundred and One Nights of Simon Cinema

... aka Cent et une nuits, Les (France: short title)

4. Romana, La (1988) (TV) .... Martherita, sua madre

5. Deceptions (1985) (TV) .... Princess Alessandra

6. "Falcon Crest" .... Francesca Gioberti (5 episodes, 1984)

- Going Once, Going Twice (1984) TV episode .... Francesca Gioberti

- Tarentella (1984) TV episode .... Francesca Gioberti

- The Trump Card (1984) TV episode .... Francesca Gioberti

- Pain and Pleasure (1984) TV episode .... Francesca Gioberti

- The Intruder (1984) TV episode .... Francesca Gioberti

7. "Hora de..., La" (1 episode, 1975)

- Episode dated 5 November 1975 (1975) TV episode

8. No encontré rosas para mi madre (1973) .... Netty, aka 'Tani', the photographer

... aka Mortal Sin (USA: literal English title)

... aka Peccato mortale (Italy)

... aka Roses and Green Peppers

... aka Roses rouges et piments verts (France)

... aka The Lonely Woman

9. "Obraz uz obraz" .... Djina (1 episode, 1973)

- Episode #1.7 (1973) TV episode .... Djina

10. "Avventure di Pinocchio, Le" (1972) TV mini-series .... Fatina Azzurra

... aka Aventures de Pinocchio, Les (France)

... aka Pinocchio (West Germany)

... aka The Adventures of Pinocchio (International: English title)

11. King, Queen, Knave (1972) .... Martha Dreyer

... aka Herzbube

... aka König, Dame, Bube (West Germany)

12. Bad Man's River (1971) .... Alicia

... aka E continuavano a fregarsi il milione di dollari (Italy)

... aka Hombre de Río Malo, El (Spain)

... aka Hunt the Man Down (USA)

... aka Quatre mercenaires d'El Paso, Les (France)

13. "Lodynski's Flohmarkt Company" (1971) TV series .... Stargast, herself (unknown episodes)

14. Bellissimo novembre, Un (1969) .... Cettina

... aka Ce merveilleux automne (France)

... aka That Splendid November

15. Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968) .... Carla Campbell

16. The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell (1968) .... Maria

17. Morte ha fatto l'uovo, La (1968) .... Anna

... aka Death Laid an Egg (USA)

... aka A Curious Way to Love

... aka Mort a pondu un oeuf, La (France)

... aka Plucked

18. Stuntman (1968) .... Evelyn Lake

... aka Cascadeur, Le (France)

19. Cervantes (1967) .... Giulia

... aka Aventures extraordinaires de Cervantes, Les (France)

... aka Avventure e gli amori di Miguel Cervantes (Italy)

... aka Young Rebel (USA)

20. Sultans, Les (1966) .... Lisa

... aka Amante italiana, L' (Italy)

... aka The Sultans (International: English title)

21. Io, io, io... e gli altri (1966) .... Titta

... aka Me, Me, Me... and the Others (USA)

22. Hotel Paradiso (1966) .... Marcelle Cotte

23. Piacevoli notti, Le (1966) .... Domicilla

... aka Pleasant Nights (International: English title)

24. Strange Bedfellows (1965) .... Toni Vincente

25. Bambole, Le (1965) .... Beatrice (segment "Monsignor Cupido")

... aka Four Kinds of Love (UK)

... aka Poupées, Les (France)

... aka The Doll that Took the Town (USA: DVD box title)

... aka The Dolls (USA)

26. Woman of Straw (1964) .... Maria Marcello

27. Mare matto (1963) .... Margherita

... aka Crazy Sea (International: English title: informal alternative title)

... aka Mad Sea (International: English title: literal title)

... aka Mer à boire, La (France)

28. Venere imperiale (1963) .... Paulette Bonaparte

... aka Imperial Venus (USA)

... aka Vénus impériale (France)

29. Bellezza di Ippolita, La (1962) .... Ippolita

... aka Beauté d'Hippolyte, La (France)

... aka She Got What She Asked For

... aka The Beautiful Ippolita

30. Come September (1961) .... Lisa Helena Fellini

31. Go Naked in the World (1961) .... Guilietta Cameron

32. Never So Few (1959) .... Carla Vesari

... aka Campaign Burma (USA: alternative title)

33. Solomon and Sheba (1959) .... Sheba

34. Legge, La (1959) .... Marietta

... aka Loi, La (France)

... aka The Law

... aka Where the Hot Wind Blows! (USA)

35. Anna di Brooklyn (1958) .... Anna

... aka Anna of Brooklyn (UK)

... aka Fast and Sexy (USA)

36. Notre Dame de Paris (1956) .... Esmeralda

... aka Gobbo di Notre Dame, Il (Italy)

... aka The Hunchback of Notre Dame (USA)

... aka Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (USA: complete title)

37. Trapeze (1956) .... Lola

38. Donna più bella del mondo, La (1956) .... Lina Cavalieri

... aka Beautiful But Dangerous (USA)

... aka Belle des belles, La (France)

... aka The World's Most Beautiful Woman (International: English title: literal title)

39. Pane, amore e gelosia (1954) .... Maria De Ritis, detta 'La Bersagliera'

... aka Bread, Love and Jealousy (Australia) (UK)

... aka Frisky (USA)

40. Romana, La (1954) .... Adriana

... aka Belle Romaine, La (France)

... aka Woman of Rome (USA)

41. Maestro di Don Giovanni, Il (1954) .... Francesca

... aka Crossed Swords (USA)

42. Grand jeu, Le (1954) .... Sylvia Sorrego/Helena Ricci

... aka Card of Fate (UK)

... aka Flesh and the Woman (USA)

... aka Grande gioco, Il (Italy)

43. Giorno in pretura, Un (1954) (uncredited) .... Frine

... aka A Day in Court

44. Pane, amore e fantasia (1953) .... Maria De Ritis, detta 'La Bersagliera'

... aka Bread, Love and Dreams (USA)

45. Beat the Devil (1953) .... Maria Dannreuther

... aka Tesoro dell'Africa, Il (Italy)

46. Provinciale, La (1953) .... Gemma Vagnuzzi

... aka The Wayward Wife (USA)

47. Infedeli, Le (1953) .... Lulla Possenti

... aka Infidèles, Les (France)

... aka The Unfaithfuls (USA)

48. Belles de nuit, Les (1952) .... Leila/Cashier

... aka Beauties of the Night (USA)

... aka Belle della notte, Le (Italy)

... aka Night Beauties

49. Fanfan la Tulipe (1952) .... Adeline La Franchise

... aka Fan-Fan the Tulip (USA)

... aka Soldier of Love

50. Moglie per una notte (1952) .... Ottavia

... aka Wife for a Night (UK)

51. Altri tempi (1952) .... Mariantonia

... aka In Olden Days

... aka Infidelity (UK)

... aka Times Gone By (USA)

52. Achtung! Banditi! (1951) .... Anna

... aka Attention! Bandits! (International: English title)

53. Città si difende, La (1951) .... Daniela

... aka Four Ways Out (USA)

54. A Tale of Five Cities (1951) .... Maria Severini

... aka A Tale of Five Women (USA)

... aka Fünf Mädchen und ein Mann (West Germany)

... aka Fünf Städte - Fünf Mädchen (Austria)

... aka Inconnu des cinq cités, L' (France)

... aka Passaporto per l'oriente (Italy)

... aka Racconto di cinque città (Italy)

... aka Storia di cinque città (Italy)

55. Enrico Caruso: leggenda di una voce (1951) .... Stella

... aka The Young Caruso (USA)

56. Amor non ho... però... però (1951) .... Gina

... aka Love I Haven't... But... But (International: English title)

57. Vita da cani (1950) .... Margherita 'Rita Buton'

... aka A Dog's Life

... aka It's a Dog's Life

58. Cuori senza frontiere (1950) .... Donata Sebastian

... aka The White Line (USA)

59. Alina (1950) .... Alina

... aka Alina la contrabbandiera (Italy)

60. Miss Italia (1950) .... Lisetta Minneci

... aka Miss Italy

... aka My Beautiful Daughter (USA: TV title)

61. Sposa non può attendere, La (1949) .... Donata

... aka Anselmo ha fretta (Italy)

... aka The Bride Can't Wait

... aka The Bride Couldn't Wait (UK)

62. Follie per l'opera (1949) .... Dora Scala

... aka Mad About Opera (USA)

63. Campane a martello (1949) .... Agostina

64. Pagliacci (1948) .... Nedda, wife of Canio

... aka Love of a Clown - Pagliacci (USA)

... aka Pagliacci: Amore tragico, I (Italy)

65. A Man About the House (1947)

... aka Vendetta nel sole (Italy)

66. Delitto di Giovanni Episcopo, Il (1947) .... Party Guest

... aka Flesh Will Surrender (UK) (USA)

67. Segreto di Don Giovanni, Il (1947) (uncredited)

... aka When Love Calls (USA)

68. Aquila nera (1946) .... Una ragazza alla festa

... aka Return of the Black Eagle (USA)

... aka The Black Eagle (UK)

69. Elisir d'amore, L' (1946) .... Adina's girlfriend

... aka Elixir of Love (USA)

... aka This Wine of Love (USA)

70. Lucia di Lammermoor (1946) (uncredited)

Director:

1. Ritratto di Fidel (1975)

Writer:

1. Ritratto di Fidel (1975) (writer)

Producer:

1. Ritratto di Fidel (1975) (producer)

Music Department:

1. Enrico Caruso: leggenda di una voce (1951) (singing voice: Maurizio Di Nardo)

... aka The Young Caruso (USA)

Pics from Dr. Macro's website ...

More pics from Dr. Macro's ...

More, same source ...

she is amazing

http://flickr.com/photos/italiangerry/528335658/

http://www.operagloves.com/Superstars/Gina...gida/gina3.html

http://www.operagloves.com/Superstars/Gina...ida/gina12.html

What a beauty

What a beauty

Gina in the french movie "Notre dame de Paris" as Esmeralda

thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

her eyes are so stunning!

She reminds me a bit of Mariacarla Boscono ...

beautiful!

She is beautiful I was wondering if there was a thread of her. Thanks for the youtube video earlier!

She is beautiful I was wondering if there was a thread of her. Thanks for the youtube video earlier!

yes I wondered why coz she is beautiful and great actress!