Claudia Cardinale Biography

Claudia Cardinale (born April 15, 1938 in La Goulette, Tunis, Tunisia) is an Tunisian-Italian actress born in La Goulette, Tunisia to a French mother and Italian Sicilian father.

Early life

Claudia Cardinale was born Claude Joséphine Rose Cardin. Her father was an Italian railroad worker. Despite having an Italian father, she grew up speaking French for her French mother. She had her break into films after winning a Tunisian beauty contest in 1957.

At the Italian Embassy in Tunis, she was voted the most beautiful Italian girl in Tunisia. Her prize was a trip to Venice during the Venice Film Festival. After the festival, she was offered movie roles, however she initially refused them and returned to Tunis. Six months later, a producer sold her on a career in movies, and she went to Rome with her parents, two brothers and sister, taking a home in Castel Giubileo, a small town outside the city.

Career

Claudia Cardinale made her film debut in Goha (1958) and later that year had a role in the minor international success "I soliti ignoti". Her early career was largely managed by producer Franco Cristaldi. Throughout the 1960s she appeared in many Italian or Italian co-financed films including Philippe de Broca's "Cartouche" (1962), "Rocco e i suoi fratelli" (1960), Luchino Visconti's "Il Gattopardo" (1963) (The Leopard), Federico Fellini's "8½" (1963) and Sergio Leone's epic "Once Upon a Time in the West" (1968).

Despite her very feminine appearance, she had a deep voice (for a woman) from an early age, and in her early films she had her voice dubbed by someone else, but very soon her unique voice gained huge popularity and added to her success.

Cardinale never made a real attempt to break into the American market since she was not interested in leaving Europe for extended periods of time. Her Hollywood films include "The Pink Panther" (1963), "Circus World" (1964), "Blindfold" (1965) and "The Hell With Heroes" (1968).

A photograph of Cardinale was featured in the original gatefold artwork to Bob Dylan's album "Blonde on Blonde" in 1966; since the photo was used without Cardinale's permission, the photo was removed from the cover art in later pressings.

Claudia Cardinale has appeared in more good European movies than most of her contemporaries. Her performance in Visconti's Sandra/Of A Thousand Delights is regarded as mesmerizing, playing a Holocaust survivor with an incestuous relationship with her brother. In Comencini's La Storia (from Elsa Morante's novel), Cardinale plays a widow raising a son during World War II and was another well-received performance. Other memorable performances include Valerio Zurlini's Girl With a Suitcase and Mauro Bolognini's "Libera, My love".

Cardinale remains active in European cinema, her later films include "Qui comincia l'avventura" (1975), "Fitzcarraldo" (1982), "Un homme amoureux" (1987), "And now... Ladies and Gentlemen" (2002) and "Astérix aux jeux olympiques" (2008).

Personal Life

Claudia Cardinale denies ever having been married, although it is hypothesised that she has been at least once to Franco Cristaldi, 1966 - 1975. She has been living with film director Pasquale Squitieri since 1975, and has two children. Her son Patrick was born by a mysterious Frenchman when the actress was only 17, Cristaldi adopted him later, and has a daughter, Claudia by Squitieri.

Claudia Cardinale is a liberal with strong political convictions. She is involved in pro-women and pro-gay issues and has frequently stated her pride in her Tunisian roots - as evidenced by her appearance as herself in the Tunisian film "Un été à La Goulette" (1996), (A Summer in La Goulette). She is involved in many humanitarian causes. Claudia Cardinale is UNESCO good will ambassador for the Defense of Women's Rights since 1999.

Claudia Cardinale wrote an autobiography, "Moi Claudia, Toi Claudia". In 2005, she also published a French-language book, "Mes Etoiles", about her personal and professional relationships with many of her directors and co-stars through her nearly 50 years in show-business. She currently lives in Paris.

Awards among others

* 1984 Best Actress for: Claretta (1984), Venice Film Festival
* 1993 Career Golden Lion, Venice Film Festival
* 2002 Honorary Golden Berlin Bear, Berlin International Film Festival

Claudia Cardinale Filmography - Movies - TV

• Astérix aux jeux olympiques (2008) (post-production)
  ... aka Asterix at the Olympic Games (International: English title)
  ... aka Asterix bei den Olympischen Spielen (Germany)
• Cherche fiancé tous frais payés (2007) .... Elisabeth
• Estrenando sueños (2007)
• Démon de midi, Le (2005) .... Claudia Cardinale
  ... aka The Demon Stirs (International: English title)
• And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen... (2002) .... Madame Falconetti
• Elisabeth (2000) (TV) .... Claude Barde
• Li chiamarono... briganti! (1999)
  ... aka Brigands (International: English title)
  ... aka Briganti
• Un café... l'addition (1999) .... Mme Gigi
• "Mia, Liebe meines Lebens" (1998) (mini) TV Series .... Mary O'Sullivan
  ... aka Mia per sempre (Italy)
• Riches, belles, etc. (1998)
  ... aka Riches, belles et cruelles
• "Deserto di fuoco" (1997) (mini) TV Series .... Leila
  ... aka Désert de feu, Le (France)
  ... aka Prinzessin Amina (Germany)
• Sous les pieds des femmes (1997) .... Aya 1996
• "Nostromo" (1997) (mini) TV Series .... Teresa Viola
  ... aka Joseph Conrad's Nostromo
  ... aka Nostromo - Der Schatz in den Bergen (Germany)
• "10-07: L'affaire Zeus" (1995) TV Series .... Agent
• Elles ne pensent qu'à ça... (1994) .... Margaux
  ... aka Women Have Only One Thing on Their Minds
• Son of the Pink Panther (1993) .... Maria Gambrelli
  ... aka Blake Edwards' Son of the Pink Panther
  ... aka Figlio della pantera rosa, Il (Italy)
• "Flash - Der Fotoreporter" .... Gilda Ricci / ... (1 episode, 1993)
  - Das Zweite Gesicht der Aida (1993) TV Episode .... Gilda Ricci/Monica Ricci
• "Mayrig" (1993) (mini) TV Series .... Araxi (Mayrig)
  ... aka Mother (USA)
• 588 rue paradis (1992) .... Araxi (Mayrig)
  ... aka Mother (USA)
• Mayrig (1991) .... Araxi (Mayrig)
  ... aka Mother (USA)
• Atto di dolore (1991) .... Elena
  ... aka Act of Contrition
  ... aka Act of Sorrow (International: English title)
  ... aka Acte d'amour (France)
• Batalla de los Tres Reyes, La (1990) .... Roxelane
  ... aka Battaglia dei tre tamburi di fuoco, La (Italy)
  ... aka Bitva tryokh koroley (Soviet Union: Russian title)
  ... aka Drums of Fire (International: English title: informal title)
  ... aka Tambores de fuego (Spain: Castilian title)
  ... aka Tamburi di fuoco (Italy)
  ... aka The Battle of the Three Kings (International: English title: literal title)
• Hiver 54, l'abbé Pierre (1989) .... Hélène
  ... aka Winter of '54: Father Pierre (International: English title)
• Révolution française, La (1989) .... Yolande-Gabrielle de Polastron, duchesse de Polignac (segment "Années Lumière, Les")
  ... aka Französische Revolution, Die (West Germany)
  ... aka The French Revolution
• Blu elettrico (1988) .... Tata
  ... aka Electric Blue
• Un homme amoureux (1987) .... Julia Steiner
  ... aka A Man in Love (USA)
  ... aka Uomo innamorato, Un (Italy)
• Naso di cane (1987) (TV)
  ... aka Hit Man (International: English title)
• Storia, La (1986) (TV) .... Ida
  ... aka History (USA)
• Été prochain, L' (1985) .... Jeanne
  ... aka Next Summer
• Donna delle meraviglie, La (1985) .... Maura
  ... aka Woman of Wonders (USA)
• Enrico IV (1984) .... Matilda
  ... aka Henry IV (USA)
• Claretta (1984) .... Clara 'Claretta' Petacci
  ... aka Claretta Petacci (International: English title)
• Princess Daisy (1983) (TV) .... Anabelle de Fourdemont Valenski
• Ruffian, Le (1983) .... La 'baronne'
  ... aka The Ruffian
• Cadeau, Le (1982) .... Antonella Dufour
  ... aka Bankers Also Have Souls (USA)
  ... aka Regalo, Il (Italy)
  ... aka The Gift (USA)
• Fitzcarraldo (1982) .... Molly
• Pelle, La (1981) .... Principessa Consuelo Caracciolo
  ... aka Peau, La (France)
  ... aka The Skin
• The Salamander (1981) .... Elena Leporello
  ... aka Salamandra, La (Italy)
• Si salvi chi vuole (1980)
• Escape to Athena (1979) .... Eleana
• Petite fille en velours bleu, La (1978) .... Francesca Modigliani
  ... aka Little Girl in Blue Velvet (International: English title)
• Part du feu, La (1978) .... Catherine Hansen
  ... aka Fire's Share (International: English title)
• Arma, L' (1978) .... Marta
  ... aka Sniper (USA: video title)
  ... aka The Gun
• Prefetto di ferro, Il (1977) .... Anna Torrisi
  ... aka The Iron Prefect (International: English title: literal title)
• "Jesus of Nazareth" (1977) (mini) TV Series .... The Adulteress
  ... aka Gesù di Nazareth (Italy)
• Corleone (1977) .... Rosa Accordino
  ... aka Father of the Godfathers
• Goodbye e amen (1977) .... Aliki
  ... aka Goodbye and Amen
• Comune senso del pudore, Il (1976) .... Armida Ballarin
  ... aka A Common Sense of Modesty (International: English title: literal title)
• Qui comincia l'avventura (1975) .... Claudia
  ... aka Blonde in Black Leather (USA)
  ... aka Lucky Girls (UK)
• A mezzanotte va la ronda del piacere (1975) .... Gabriella Sansoni
  ... aka Midnight Lovers
  ... aka Midnight Pleasures
  ... aka The Immortal Bachelor (USA)
• Gruppo di famiglia in un interno (1974) (uncredited) .... Professor's wife
  ... aka Conversation Piece (USA)
  ... aka Violence et passion (France)
• Days of Fury (1973) .... Anya
  ... aka Giorno del furore, Il (Italy)
  ... aka One Russian Summer
• Guappi, I (1973) .... Lucia Esposito
  ... aka Blood Brothers
• Libera, amore mio... (1973) .... Libera Valente
  ... aka Libera, My Love
• Scoumoune, La (1972) .... Georgia Saratov
  ... aka Clan dei marsigliesi, Il (Italy)
  ... aka Hit Man (UK)
  ... aka Mafia Warfare (Australia: video title)
  ... aka Scomunicato, Lo (Italy: alternative title)
  ... aka Scoumoune (USA)
  ... aka The Pariah (USA: video title)
• Pétroleuses, Les (1971) .... Marie Sarrazin
  ... aka Frenchie King (USA)
  ... aka Petroleum Girls
  ... aka Pistolere, Le (Italy)
  ... aka The Legend of Frenchie King (USA)
• Popsy Pop (1971) .... Popsy
  ... aka Fuori il malloppo (Italy)
  ... aka Queen of Diamonds
  ... aka Reina de diamantes, La (Venezuela)
  ... aka The 21 Carat Snatch (UK)
  ... aka The Butterfly Affair
  ... aka The Great Diamond Chase (UK: reissue title)
• Bello, onesto, emigrato Australia sposerebbe compaesana illibata (1971) .... Carmela
  ... aka A Girl in Australia (International: English title)
• Udienza, L' (1971) .... Aiche
  ... aka Audience, L' (France)
  ... aka Papal Audience
  ... aka The Audience
• The Adventures of Gerard (1970) .... Teresa (Countess of Morales)
  ... aka Adventures of Brigadier Gérard
• Krasnaya palatka (1969) .... Nurse Valeria
  ... aka ??????? ??????? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
  ... aka Tenda rossa, La (Italy)
  ... aka The Red Tent (USA)
  ... aka Tsiteli karavi (Soviet Union: Georgian title)
• Certo, certissimo, anzi... probabile (1969) .... Marta CHiaretti
  ... aka Certain, Very Certain, As a Matter of Fact... Probable (USA)
  ... aka Diary of a Telephone Operator (USA)
  ... aka Of Course, Certainly, Even Likely
• Ruba al prossimo tuo (1969) .... Esmeralda Marini
  ... aka A Fine Pair (USA)
• Nell'anno del Signore (1969) .... Giuditta Di Castro
  ... aka Conspirateurs, Les (France)
  ... aka The Conspirators (International: English title)
• C'era una volta il West (1968) .... Jill McBain
  ... aka Once Upon a Time in the West (UK) (USA)
  ... aka There Was Once the West (USA: literal English title)
• The Hell with Heroes (1968) .... Elena
• Giorno della civetta, Il (1968) .... Rosa Nicolosi
  ... aka Mafia
  ... aka Mafia fait la loi, La (France)
  ... aka The Day of the Owl
• Amante estelar, La (1968)
• Don't Make Waves (1967) .... Laura Califatti
• Rosa per tutti, Una (1967) .... Rosa
  ... aka A Rose for Everyone (USA)
  ... aka Everyman's Woman
• The Professionals (1966) .... Mrs. Maria Grant
• Lost Command (1966) .... Aicha
• Fate, Le (1966) .... Armenia (segment "Fata Armenia")
  ... aka Ogresses, Les (France)
  ... aka Sex Quartet (UK)
  ... aka The Queens (USA)
• Blindfold (1965) .... Vicky Vincenti
• Vaghe stelle dell'Orsa... (1965) .... Sandra
  ... aka Sandra (France)
  ... aka Sandra of a Thousand Delights (USA: dubbed version)
  ... aka Vagues étoiles de la grande ourse (France: literal title)
• Magnifico cornuto, Il (1965) .... Maria Grazia
  ... aka Cocu magnifique, Le (France)
  ... aka The Magnificent Cuckold (USA)
• Circus World (1964) .... Toni Alfredo
  ... aka Henry Hathaway's The Magnificent Showman (UK: complete title)
  ... aka Samuel Bronston's Circus World
  ... aka The Magnificent Showman (UK)
• Indifferenti, Gli (1964) .... Carla
  ... aka Deux rivales, Les (France)
  ... aka Time of Indifference (USA)
• The Pink Panther (1963) .... Princess Dala
• Gattopardo, Il (1963) .... Angelica Sedara/Bertiana
  ... aka The Leopard (UK) (USA)
  ... aka Guépard, Le (France)
• 8½ (1963) .... Claudia
  ... aka Federico Fellini's 8 1/2 (USA)
  ... aka Federico Fellini's 8½ (USA: complete title)
  ... aka Huit et demi (France)
• Ragazza di Bube, La (1963) .... Mara
  ... aka Bebo's Girl (USA)
  ... aka Ragazza, La (France)
• Senilità (1962) .... Angiolina Zarri
  ... aka Careless (USA)
  ... aka Quand la chair succombe (France)
  ... aka Senilità (UK)
• Cartouche (1962) .... Vénus
  ... aka Swords of Blood (UK)
• Auguste (1961) (uncredited) .... Cameo appearance
  ... aka Kolka, My Friend (International: English title)
• Lions sont lâchés, Les (1961) .... Albertine
  ... aka Leoni scatenati, I (Italy)
  ... aka The Lions Are Loose (USA)
• Viaccia, La (1961) .... Bianca
  ... aka Mauvais chemin, Le (France)
  ... aka The Lovemakers (USA: reissue title)
• Ragazza con la valigia, La (1961) .... Aida
  ... aka Fille à la valise, La (France)
  ... aka Girl with a Suitcase (USA)
• Delfini, I (1960) .... Fedora Santini
  ... aka Dauphins, Les (France)
  ... aka Silver Spoon Set (USA)
  ... aka The Dauphins (International: English title: literal title)
• Rocco e i suoi fratelli (1960) .... Ginetta
  ... aka Rocco and His Brothers (USA)
  ... aka Rocco et ses frères (France)
• Audace colpo dei soliti ignoti (1960) .... Carmela Nicosia
  ... aka Fiasco in Milan
  ... aka Hold-up à la milanaise
• Austerlitz (1960) .... Pauline Bonaparte
  ... aka Battaglia di Austerlitz, La (Italy)
  ... aka Napoleone ad Austerlitz (Italy)
  ... aka The Battle of Austerlitz (USA)
• Bell'Antonio, Il (1960) .... Barbara Puglisi
  ... aka Bel Antonio, Le (France)
  ... aka Bell' Antonio (USA)
• Upstairs and Downstairs (1959) .... Maria
• Maledetto imbroglio, Un (1959) .... Assuntina
  ... aka Diledetto Imbroglio
  ... aka The Facts of Murder (USA)
• Anneaux d'or (1959)
  ... aka Chaîne d'or
• Prima notte, La (1959) .... Angelica
  ... aka Noces vénitiennes, Les (France)
  ... aka Venetian Honeymoon (International: English title)
• Vento del Sud (1959) .... Grazia Macri
  ... aka South Wind (International: English title: literal title)
• Magistrato, Il (1959) .... Moglie di Orlando
  ... aka All of Us Are Guilty
  ... aka Magistrado, El (Spain)
  ... aka Nous sommes tous coupables (France)
  ... aka The Magistrate (International: English title)
• Tre straniere a Roma (1958) .... Marisa
  ... aka Three Strangers in Rome (International: English title: literal title)
• Soliti ignoti, I (1958) .... Carmelina
  ... aka Big Deal (USA)
  ... aka Big Deal on Madonna Street (USA)
  ... aka Persons Unknown (UK)
  ... aka The Usual Unidentified Thieves
• Goha (1958) .... Taj'el Ouloum's maid

  Claudia Cardinale Soundtrack - Filmography

• Blu elettrico (1988) (performer: "Dors mon enfant")
  ... aka Electric Blue

  Self Filmography - Appearances - TV

• Marcello, una vita dolce (2006)
• "Nuit des Césars, La" (1 episode, 2006)
  - Episode dated 25 February 2006 (2006) TV Episode
• "Hebdo cinéma, L'" (1 episode, 2005)
  - Episode dated 11 December 2005 (2005) TV Episode
• "Corazón de..." (1 episode, 2005)
  - Episode dated 28 July 2005 (2005) TV Episode
• The Professionals: A Classic (2005) (V)
• Memories from 'The Professionals' (2005) (V)
• "On a tout essayé" (1 episode, 2005)
  ... aka Douze coups d'on a tout essayé, Les (France: long title)
  ... aka On a tout essayé et on a gardé le meilleur (France)
  ... aka On a tout essayé, même le prime (France)
  ... aka On a tout essayé, même sans le patron (France: long title)
  - Episode dated 29 March 2005 (2005) TV Episode
• "En aparté" (1 episode, 2005)
  - Episode dated 19 February 2005 (2005) TV Episode
• "Tout le monde en parle" (1 episode, 2005)
  - Episode dated 22 January 2005 (2005) TV Episode
• A Dying Breed: The Making of 'The Leopard' (2004) (V)
• An Opera of Violence (2003) (V) (also archive footage)
• The Wages of Sin (2003) (V) (also archive footage)
• Something to Do with Death (2003) (V)
• Ultima sequenza, L' (2003)
  ... aka The Lost Ending (International: English title)
• Visconti (2002) (TV)
  ... aka Arena: The Life and Times of Count Luchino Visconti (UK)
  ... aka The Life and Times of Count Luchino Visconti (USA: festival title)
• "Film Genre" (1 episode, 2002)
  ... aka Hollywood History (UK: new title)
  - Heist (2002) TV Episode
• Visconti: La verdad del melodrama (2001) (TV)
• Vamps et femmes fatales du cinéma européen (2001) (TV)
• Cannes: Through the Eyes of the Hunter (2001)
• "Enfants de la télé, Les" (1 episode, 2000)
  - Episode dated 14 April 2000 (2000) TV Episode
• Luchino Visconti (1999)
• Mein liebster Feind - Klaus Kinski (1999) (also archive footage)
  ... aka 25. tunti: Klaus Kinski (Finland: TV title)
  ... aka Mein liebster Feind (Germany)
  ... aka My Best Fiend (Europe: English title)
• Uomo dal sigaro in bocca, L' (1997)
• Cannes... les 400 coups (1997) (TV)
• Un été à La Goulette (1996)
  ... aka A Summer in La Goulette (USA)
  ... aka Halk-el-wad (Tunisia: Arabic title)
• "Àngels de nit" (1 episode, 1996)
  - Episode dated 1 April 1996 (1996) TV Episode
• Ben Webster: The Brute and the Beautiful (1989)
• Night of 100 Stars II (1985) (TV)
• Stelli emigranti (1983)
  ... aka Wandering Stars
• Burden of Dreams (1982) .... Molly/Herself
• Famous T & A (1982) (V)
• Circus of the Stars (1977) (TV) (performer)
• America at the Movies (1976) (uncredited) .... Jill McBain
• "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (1 episode, 1971)
  ... aka The Best of Carson (USA: rerun title)
  - Episode dated 29 July 1971 (1971) TV Episode
• The 42nd Annual Academy Awards (1970) (TV) - Presenter: Best Film Editing & Best Foreign Film
• "Rom aktuell" (1 episode, 1969)
  - Episode #1.1 (1969) TV Episode
• The 37th Annual Academy Awards (1965) (TV) - Co-Presenter: Best Sound
• Claudia Cardinale (1965)
• "Cinépanorama" (1 episode, 1962)
  - Episode dated 3 March 1962 (1962) TV Episode
• "Reflets de Cannes" (1 episode, 1961)
  - Episode dated 16 May 1961 (1961) TV Episode