Gina Lollobrigida from Italy, an iconic actor of the Golden Age, has died at the age of 95, Gennaro Sangiuliano, culture minister, announced Monday.
“Farewell, a diva on the silver screen, protagonist for more than 50 years of Italian cinema history. After her death, Italy’s ANSA news agency reported that her charm would not be lost. Prime Minister Giorgia Maloni also paid tributes to Lollobrigida. She was a famous actress when she was younger, for her incisive wit and sensual beauty.
Meloni stated that she was “one the most important performers her generation, who contributed towards the diffusion of Italy’s image in the world,” in a statement. Lollobrigida, who had broken her femur in September, underwent an operation at a Rome clinic.
It said that her funeral will take place in Rome’s Piazza del Popolo on Thursday.
Luigi Comencini’s classic 1953 “Bread, Love and Dreams” and Jean Delannoy’s 1956 “The Hunchback Of Notre Dame” are the most well-known. Lollobrigida was a star alongside many of the top men of that era, such as Burt Lancaster, Errol Flynn, and Humphrey Bogart.
She was born in Subiaco on July 4, 1927. Subiaco is a mountain village located 50 km (30 miles) east from Rome. Her big break came in 1953 when she starred alongside Bogart in John Huston’s comedy “Beat the Devil”. Bogart stated that Lollobrigida made Marilyn Monroe look like Shirley Temple at the time.
Lollobrigida was awarded seven David di Donatello Awards during her career. This is the equivalent of an Oscar in Italy. In the 1970s, she was primarily a photographer and sculptor. She even managed to get a photo shoot and scoop interview with Fidel Castro, Cuba’s leader.
In 2021, she was back in the limelight amid bitter legal battles with her son about her fortune. Italy’s Supreme Court ruled she required a legal guardian in order to prevent people from preying on her wealth because of her “weakening” perception of reality.