X

Join or Sign In

Sign in to customize your TV listings

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Sophia Loren Biography

Birth Name:Sophia Villani Scicolone

Birth Place:Rome, Italy

Profession Actress, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

  • Ranked No․ 21 on the American Film Institute's "100 Years․․․ 100 Stars" list for Female Legends
  • Recipient of the Golden Glove Cecil B․ DeMille Award in 1995 for her contribution to cinema
  • After placing as a finalist in a beauty contest, she caught producer Carlo Ponti's attention, later looking to him as a father figure as he put her under a contract and began to star in films
  • Forced to flee their hometown of Pozzuoli, Italy during WWII and move to Naples, as it was a frequent bomb target of the Allies
  • Quote: "There IS a Fountain of Youth․ It is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love․ When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age․"
  • Quote: "Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself․ That is why some people with mediocre talent, but with great inner drive, go so much further than people with vastly superior talent․"
  • Gained critical acclaim with one of her first roles in 1953's "Aida" and eventually caught the attention of Hollywood in the late 1950s and began to star in numerous films with stars such as John Wayne, Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra
  • Hit international fame during the 1960s while under contract with Paramount Pictures who also marketed her as an international sex symbol
  • Suffered from debilitating stage fright and never appeared in a live stage production
  • Godmother of Drew Barrymore

Awards

  • 1958Volpi Cup-Best Actress: winner
  • 1959Golden Plate-: winner
  • 1960Bambi-Best Actress - International: winner
  • 1961Bambi-Best Actress - International: winner
  • 1961Best Actress-: winner
  • 1961David-Best Actress (Migliore Attrice): winner
  • 1961Golden Globe-Best Actress - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1961Silver Ribbon-Best Actress (Migliore Attrice Protagonista): winner
  • 1961Golden Laurel-Top Female Comedy Performance: nominated
  • 1961NYFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 1962Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1962BAFTA Film Award-Best Foreign Actress: winner
  • 1962Bambi-Best Actress - International: winner
  • 1963Bambi-Best Actress - International: winner
  • 1963Sant Jordi-Best Performance in a Foreign Film (Mejor Interpretación en Película Extranjera): winner
  • 1964Bambi-Best Actress - International: winner
  • 1964David-Best Actress (Migliore Attrice): winner
  • 1964Silver Ribbon-Best Actress (Migliore Attrice Protagonista): nominated
  • 1965Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1965David-Best Actress (Migliore Attrice): winner
  • 1965Golden Globe-Best Actress - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1965Silver Ribbon-Best Actress (Migliore Attrice Protagonista): nominated
  • 1965Golden Laurel-Comedy Performance, Female: nominated
  • 1965Best Actress-: winner
  • 1967Bambi-Best Actress - International: winner
  • 1968Bambi-Best Actress - International: nominated
  • 1968Silver Ribbon-Best Actress (Migliore Attrice Protagonista): nominated
  • 1969Bambi-Best Actress - International: winner
  • 1970David-Best Actress (Migliore Attrice): winner
  • 1971Fotogramas de Plata-Best Foreign Performer (Mejor intérprete de cine extranjero): nominated
  • 1974David-Best Actress (Migliore Attrice): winner
  • 1974Prize San Sebastián-Best Actress: winner
  • 1978David-Best Actress (Migliore Attrice): winner
  • 1978Golden Globe-Best Actress (Migliore Attrice): winner
  • 1978Silver Ribbon-Best Actress (Migliore Attrice Protagonista): winner
  • 1979Jupiter Award-Best International Actress: nominated
  • 1980Jupiter Award-Best International Actress: nominated
  • 1994NBR Award-Best Acting by an Ensemble: winner
  • 1995Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2009EDA Female Focus Award-Actress Defying Age and Ageism: nominated
  • 2009Special Achievement Award-Best Ensemble, Motion Picture: winner
  • 2009WAFCA Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
  • 2010Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2014Special David-: winner
  • 2020Capri Actress Award-: winner
  • 2021Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 2021EDA Special Mention Award-Actress Defying Age and Ageism: winner
  • 2021CinEuphoria-Best Actress - International Competition: winner
  • 2021CinEuphoria-Best Duo - International Competition: nominated
  • 2021CinEuphoria-Best Ensemble - International Competition: nominated
  • 2021David-Best Actress (Migliore Attrice Protagonista): winner
  • 2021Golden Ciak-Best Actress (Migliore Attrice Protagonista): nominated
  • 2021Platinum Ribbon-: winner
  • 2021NDFS Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2021Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama: nominated