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Sophia Loren (born September 20, 1934) is considered to be one of the most famous Italian actresses of all time who at the age of 70, continues to be considered a top sex symbol. She was born Sofia Villani Scicolone in Rome, Italy, the illegitimate daughter of Romilda Villani and Riccardo Scicolone. She grew up in poverty in Pozzuoli but found her way into small parts in European films in the early 1950s, often billed as Sofia Lazzaro. She was "discovered" by her future husband Carlo Ponti, who produced many of her films. One of her first major roles was as the titular character of the 1953 Italian film Due notti con Cleopatra (a.k.a. Two Nights with Cleopatra). This film, like many of her other early roles, emphasized her voluptuous physique; she even appeared topless in a few films (which was considered acceptable in European cinema at the time, though said scenes were usually cut out when the films were distributed in the United Kingdom or in North America). Although she had appeared in a bit part in the Hollywood blockbuster Quo Vadis in 1951, it was not until 1957's Boy on a Dolphin that Loren became a major international film star, due in part to the iconic image of her wearing a water-soaked, body-clinging dress. In short order, however, Loren demonstrated considerable skill as a dramatic and comedic actress, which gained her respect as being more than just a sex symbol. Some of her earliest American films included Desire Under the Elms (based upon the Eugene O'Neill play), Houseboat (a romantic comedy starring Cary Grant), and The Black Orchid (a romantic drama co-starring Anthony Quinn). By the 1960s, Loren was one of the most popular actresses in the world, and continued to make popular films in both America and in Europe. One of her best-known films of this period was The Millionairess (1960) which became the subject of much speculation due to the fact her co-star, Peter Sellers, became infatuated with the actress and later claimed to have had an affair with her (a fact she denies). To promote the film, Loren and Sellers recorded a best-selling album of comedic songs. That same year, Loren gave an acclaimed performance in Italy's Two Women, which earned her the distinction of being the first actor to win a major category Academy Award (in her case, Best Actress) for a non-English language performance. Loren moved into her 40s and 50s gracefully and continued to be considered both a fine dramatic actress and a sex symbol for years, with acclaimed roles in films such as The Cassandra Crossing and Robert Altman's Ready to Wear. In 1982, she made headlines when she served an 18-day prison sentence in Italy on tax evasion charges but this didn't slow down her career. In 1980 she had the rare distinction of portraying herself (as well as her own mother) in a made-for-television biopic, Sophia Loren: Her Own Story (Ritza Brown and Chiara Ferrari played younger versions of the actress). In 1991, Loren received an honorary Academy Award for her contributions to cinema. In her 60s, Loren was selective in her films, but made a well-received appearance in the 1994 comedy Grumpier Old Men and in 2004 had a major role in the mini-series, Lives of the Saints. Loren was portrayed by Sonia Aquino in the 2004 biopic The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, as well as by Silvia Vrij in a 1980 film entitled Dirty Picture.

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