Italian film actress Claudia Cardinale dead at 87 , she is legendary Italian film star of 8½, the Leopard, and Once upon a Time in the west . Famous due to her grace, leaving a lasting impact on the movie industry across the world.
About it:
Claudia Cardinale, the famous Italian (born in Tunisia) actress has passed away, at 87.
She died in Nemours, France with her children.
Her death has brought tributes that show her long influential career in European and world cinema. She is remembered by the film historians and the media in her iconic roles in 8½, the Leopard, Once upon a time in the West, and many others.
Look, authorities and culture leaders are commemorating her legacy: the Culture Minister of Italy said she was one of the most important Italian actresses of all time, and represented the Italian grace.
Career Highlights & Legacy
- Born and discovered: Cardinale was born to Sicilian parents in Tunisia and he started acting when he won a beauty contest in Tunis at 17 years old.
- Major early roles:
o 8½ (1963) by Federico Fellini – it was one of her most famous roles.
o Another breakthrough performance is The Leopard (1963) by Luchino Visconti.
o Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) is one of her global hits, The Pink Panther.
- Scope & variety: In her career she appeared as a star in more than a hundred movies and TV shows. She performed a very wide range of characters – as she says in one quote: I lived over 150 lives, prostitute, saint, romantic, every type of woman…
- Standing & recognition:
o She has taken a Golden Lion of Lifetime Achievement in the Venice Film Festival.
o Being a UNESCO goodwill ambassador.
o Her language versatility, her work with numerous major directors (Fellini, Visconti, Leone, Werner Herzog, etc.) are frequently mentioned as some of the components of the artistic diversity.
- Personal struggles and personal independence:
o She experienced an abusive relationship in her early years, as well as a secret pregnancy.
o She had offers with Hollywood but did not want to turn into a cliché and continued to be connected with European cinema.
The last few years and perspectives:
o MoMA has a retrospectives series in her honor of her almost 70-year career, and her films have been restored in large numbers, and an illustrated book on her.
o Later in life she was active with TV and stage roles.
Reactions & Tributes
- Most in the film industry and media are referring to her death as the end of an era to European cinema highlighting the fact that she was one of the brightest faces of the European cinema.
- Stefanie Powers wrote about it as a memorial, saying they had spent time together in Escape to Athena and that their friendship lasted all the years.
- Both the audience and film critics are pointing out how she was able to bring together glamour, depth, and presence in her roles and not be merely a pretty face.
- Her quote of having the capacity to live over 150 lives is being quoted extensively as an icon of her versatility and power.
The philosophy of acting and identity by Claudia Cardinale.
- Strength & maintaining self
However, in order to perform this sort of work, you must be extremely strong, lest you lose your character, your personality.
She tended to stress that as an actress one should not be played so by the roles or by the public image that he or she forgets the person she is.
Mystery and restraint
I never considered being scandaled and confessing to be an actress. I have never exposed myself or even my body in movies. Mystery is very important.”
She appreciated what is not displayed, as much as what is displayed- having a secret life, mystery and not displaying everything.
- Genuineness as opposed to fake maintenance.
She rebuffs cosmetic surgery, face-lifts, or even attempts to freeze the look.
I desire to live and exist now with all my wrinkles… To eliminate any indications of time was to kill my memories.
And:
“You can’t stop time. I have not got anything done on my face, I cannot stand the thought of a facelift.
- Collaborating with excellent directors and admiration of the work.
She talks positively of such directors as Visconti, Fellini, Leone. She contrasts their working methods, e.g. Fellini more spontaneous, Visconti more disciplined and meticulous (like theatre).
In the case of Once Upon a Time in the West, she has complimented Leone on his music, details and concern of emotion.
- Independence & personal integrity.
She also declined to become a Hollywood-conglomerate star who has a fixed-term, as she wanted to select her roles on the basis of the quality of the screenplay and the director, rather than popularity and exposure itself.
She believed that the actors are supposed to make their own decisions based on their own logic, rather than on what the industry requires.
- Now living many lives in parts.
One of the repeated metaphors: performing as a chance to live thousands of lives.
- On society / role / women and aging.
She perceived difficulties in the way females are depicted, particularly old, beauty, neuroticism in characters. She believed actors burdened with the anxieties of the society.
She also was devoted to social problems, female rights, etc.
Co-Stars & Directors on Her
- Visconti: He handled her in a very dramatic, exact manner. Everything (motive, costume, tradition) was taken into account with him. His employment with her gave her strictness and discipline.
- Fellini: His style was less routine oriented; a little less strict, more free. She compared his style to that of Visconti.
- Cine: She loved the style of filmmaking that Leone employed, particularly in the use of sound / music and atmosphere to establish the tone, the importance that Leone placed in details in the scene and character.
- Burt Lancaster: She said that there was a measure of respect and some initial uneasyness; there was something about Lancaster of The Leopard that was the air of a large American star, and she looked at him knowing he was a star.
Conclusion-
Claudia Cardinale was much more than a screen idol, a representation of beauty, richness and artistic values. Through her more than seventy years-long career, she played, and fiercely defended, hundreds of lives on the screen, and strongly guarded her identity off-screen. Already known as an actress of 8½, The Leopard and Once Upon a Time in the West, she collaborated with some of the most outstanding films directors in Europe and the world: Fellini, Visconti, Leone, made a permanent impact in European and world cinema.
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