Claudia Cardinale, the iconic Italian actress who brought unforgettable grace and depth to European cinema, has died at the age of 87. Cardinale passed away on September 23, 2025, in Nemours, France, surrounded by her children, as confirmed by her agent Laurent Savry to the Associated Press and AFP. The news sent waves of nostalgia and admiration across the film world, with tributes pouring in from political leaders, cultural icons, and fans who cherished her luminous presence on screen for more than six decades.
Born on April 15, 1938, in La Goulette, near Tunis, to Sicilian parents, Cardinale’s life was marked by both extraordinary triumph and profound challenge. Her journey to stardom began almost by accident. At just 16, she won a local beauty contest in Tunisia, earning the title of "the most beautiful Italian woman in Tunis." The prize—a trip to the Venice Film Festival—catapulted her into the orbit of Italy’s burgeoning film industry. Though she had once aspired to become a school teacher, Cardinale’s father encouraged her to "give this cinema thing a go," as she later recalled. "The fact I’m making movies is just an accident," she told the Berlin Film Festival in 2002. "When they asked me ‘do you want to be in the movies?’ I said no and they insisted for six months."
But Cardinale’s early years in the industry were far from glamorous. As reported by France 24 and BBC, she endured a traumatic rape as a teenager by a film producer, resulting in a secret pregnancy. With the support of a mentor, she gave birth to her son, Patrick, in London, introducing him as her younger brother for the next seven years to shield herself from scandal and protect her career. "I did it for him, for Patrick, the child I wanted to keep despite the circumstances and the enormous scandal," Cardinale told Le Monde in 2017. "I was forced to accept this lie to avoid a scandal and protect my career."
Despite these hardships, Cardinale’s ascent was meteoric. She quickly became one of the most sought-after actresses of her generation, starring in more than 100 films and television productions. Her breakthrough came in 1963, a year that would define her legacy. She starred as Angelica Sedara in Luchino Visconti’s sumptuous adaptation of The Leopard, and simultaneously played the ethereal muse in Federico Fellini’s Oscar-winning 8½. The two productions required her to shuttle between Sicily and Rome, even dyeing her hair weekly to meet the contrasting visions of the directors. "Visconti wanted me brunette with long hair. Fellini wanted me blonde," she once quipped.
Cardinale’s linguistic background posed another early challenge. Having grown up speaking French, Arabic, and her parents’ Sicilian dialect, her Italian carried a heavy accent. As a result, her voice was dubbed in her early films until Fellini insisted she use her own in 8½. This husky, natural voice would become one of her trademarks, adding a layer of authenticity to her performances.
Her allure was not limited to Italy. Cardinale became a symbol of postwar European glamour, acting alongside a who’s who of international cinema—including Marcello Mastroianni, Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon, Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, and John Wayne. In Hollywood, she made memorable appearances in Blake Edwards’ The Pink Panther (1963), Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), and Henry Hathaway’s Circus World (1964). Yet, Cardinale famously resisted Hollywood’s attempts to claim her exclusively. "The Hollywood studio wanted me to sign a contract of exclusivity, and I refused. Because I’m a European actress and I was going there for movies," she told The Guardian in 2002. She considered Richard Brooks’ The Professionals (1966), where she starred alongside Burt Lancaster and Lee Marvin, as her best American film.
Cardinale’s personal life was as complex as her screen roles. She married producer Franco Cristaldi in 1966, with whom she had a son, and later began a lifelong partnership with Neapolitan director Pasquale Squitieri, father to her daughter, also named Claudia. Her relationships often intersected with her professional life, as she collaborated with Squitieri on numerous films over four decades until his death in 2017.
Throughout her career, Cardinale was lauded for her resilience and independence. She refused to undergo cosmetic surgery, embracing the natural aging process and continuing to act well into her eighties. In 2020, she appeared in the Swiss TV series Bulle, and she graced the stage in Naples in a female version of Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple.
Cardinale’s commitment to social causes was as fierce as her on-screen presence. In 2000, she was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in recognition of her advocacy for women’s rights. "I've had a lot of luck. This job has given me a multitude of lives, and the possibility of putting my fame at the service of many causes," she said, reflecting on her legacy. Her activism was celebrated alongside her artistic achievements, earning her a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival nearly 40 years after her debut, and a lifetime achievement award at the Berlin Film Festival in 2002.
Her impact was felt not just in the accolades she received, but in the admiration of her peers. Actor David Niven, her co-star in The Pink Panther, once told her, "Claudia, along with spaghetti, you're Italy's greatest invention." French President Emmanuel Macron called her "an Italian and global star" who would remain "in the eternity of cinema." Italy’s Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli described her as "one of the greatest Italian actresses of all time," embodying "Italian grace" and "exceptional talent."
Cardinale herself summed up her extraordinary journey with characteristic humility and wonder. "I've lived more than 150 lives: prostitute, saint, romantic, every kind of woman, and that is marvellous to have this opportunity to change yourself," she once said. For fans and fellow artists alike, Claudia Cardinale will remain a beacon of courage, beauty, and artistry—a woman whose life and work continue to inspire across generations.
