Cardinale, Claudia (1939–)

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Cardinale, Claudia (1939–)

Italian actress. Born April 15, 1939, in Tunis, Tunisia; dau. of Italian parents; m. Franco Cristaldi (producer, writer, div. 1974); m. Pasquale Squitieri (director, writer); children: 2.

Won a beauty contest in Tunis (1957); made film debut in Les Noces Venetienne (1958); came to prominence in Big Deal on Madonna Street, followed by Rocco and His Brothers, The Leopard, 8 1/2, Cartouche, Once Upon a Time in the West, The Pink Panther, Circus World, Blindfold, Lost Command, The Professionals, The Hell with Heroes, A Fine Pair, The Red Tent, Conversation Piece, Escape to Athena, The Gift, Fitzcarraldo, Henry IV, History, A Man in Love and Son of the Pink Panther, among others. At Venice, named Best Actress in an Italian film for performance in Claretta (1984); given Lifetime Achievement Award at Berlin International Film Festival (2002).