Claudia Cardinale, the legendary Franco-Italian actress and one of the most enduring icons of post-war European cinema, passed away on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at the age of 87 in Nemours, France, surrounded by her children. The news, confirmed by her agent, was met with tributes from across the world of culture and politics. French President Emmanuel Macron hailed her as “the embodiment of freedom, a singular gaze and a talent that enriched cinema from Rome to Hollywood, and Paris, which she chose as her homeland.”
From Tunis to Venice: An Unexpected Beginning
Born Claude Joséphine Rose Cardinale on April 15, 1938, in La Goulette, near Tunis, into a Sicilian immigrant family, Cardinale grew up speaking Sicilian at home, French at school, and Arabic in the streets. A fearless tomboy in her youth, she initially dreamed of becoming a teacher or an explorer rather than an actress. Fate intervened in 1957 when she won the “Most Beautiful Italian Girl in Tunis” contest. The prize, a trip to the Venice Film Festival, propelled her reluctantly into the world of cinema.
Private Tragedy, Public Stardom
Her early life was marked by a painful secret. After surviving sexual assault as a teenager, she gave birth to a son, Patrick, whom she was pressured to present as her younger brother to protect her career. Cinema became her refuge. Her debut feature was Goha (1958), and soon after, her breakthrough came with Big Deal on Madonna Street. By the early 1960s, she was working with the greatest filmmakers of her generation: Luchino Visconti (Rocco and His Brothers, The Leopard), Federico Fellini (8½), and later Sergio Leone (Once Upon a Time in the West).
A Hundred Lives on Screen
Over the course of more than 150 films spanning six decades, Cardinale became known for her powerful presence, smoky voice, and fearless performances. She famously performed many of her own stunts and embraced roles ranging from saints to seductresses, rebels to lovers. “I have lived over 150 lives on screen,” she once reflected, “and each time I discovered a new self.”
Beyond the Silver Screen
Cardinale’s influence extended far beyond cinema. In 1999 she received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival, followed by the Honorary Golden Bear at Berlin in 2002. She also became a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 2000, tirelessly advocating for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and the abolition of the death penalty.
A Legacy of Bravery and Freedom
Her private life was as eventful as her career. Married to Italian producer Franco Cristaldi and later in a long partnership with filmmaker Pasquale Squitieri, father of her daughter Claudia, she balanced family with her relentless artistic career. Even in the 2020s, she appeared in European productions, demonstrating her undiminished passion for storytelling.
Claudia Cardinale leaves behind a legacy defined by beauty, strength, and independence. She was more than a star: she was a symbol of freedom and resilience, whose light will continue to illuminate the history of cinema.
