Claudia Cardinale: Here’s what the Italian film icon looks like at 86

Over the course of her over 60-year career, the mysterious Claudia Cardinale captivated audiences with her amazing presence on television.

Cardinale took the frequently traumatized way to celebrity, not intending to become one of the best performers of the golden period.

She claims that “cinema saved my life,” having outlasted the now-deceased Hollywood heavyweights with whom she had a screen share and continuing to thrive at the age of 86.

To find out more about this actress and her current endeavors, continue reading!

Being a legendary actress, Claudia Cardinale will always be remembered for her contributions to Italian and foreign cinema. Throughout her career, she was able to portray a wide range of complex and memorable roles thanks to her talent, beauty, and versatility.

At eighteen, the Italian actor, who was born in Tunisia, was pursuing her education to become a teacher. The young woman with shiny hair and French accent was enthralled with the pomp of an Italian film festival when she emerged from the crowd and won the title of Most Beautiful Italian Girl in Tunisia.

“I was assisting my mother and Italian government representatives in setting up an Italian film festival in Tunisia. I wasn’t supposed to be there, but I couldn’t help but stare at the females on stage. I was called the Most Beautiful Girl in Tunisia after someone shoved me out onto the platform, the girl claimed.

The young lady had numerous offers from producers after winning a trip to the Venice film festival, which she saw as a portentous adventure.

Cardinale said in an interview that he initially declined the offers because “it’s like a man.” If you respond positively to him when he approaches, he will eventually move on. He will long to have you if you say no.

She turned down most of the offers because she was expecting a child.

She was unable to turn down one producer, though. The young Cardinale caught the eye of renowned Italian producer Franco Cristaldi, who is recognized for his work on feature films from the 1950s through the 1990s, and he signed her to an 18-year contract.

A personal contract was also in place; after their marriage, Cristaldi completely controlled her, molding her into an Italian Brigitte Bardot and deciding on her social life, weight, and movie choices.

Cristaldi insisted that her pregnancy remain a secret.

It was revealed that her son was her younger brother.

Cardinale had a few small parts in Italian movies under Cristaldi’s direction, and because of her roles, she was known as “Italy’s sweetheart.”

Her breakthrough performance came in the romantic comedy Three Strangers in Rome in 1958. Seven months into her pregnancy—which, at Cristaldi’s insistence, she kept a secret—Cardinale fell into a depressive state and contemplated suicide, appealing with her management to end the arrangement.

Rather, Cristaldi sent her to London to avoid media attention, fabricating a story about her absence to acquire English for a part.

Her baby Patrick was born in 1975, and she claimed that the father of the kid, an unnamed male, had raped her. Her son Patrick’s identity remained concealed until he reached nineteen.

Contents

  1. ‘Violent truth’
  2. ‘Italian Brigitte Bardot’
  3. ‘You cannot stop time’

‘Violent truth’

The graphic details of Cardinale’s pregnancy were revealed to Italian writer Enzo Biagi in 2017, when she confided in him, saying, “A man I didn’t know, much older than me, forced me to go up to car and raped me.” It was horrific, but the most lovely thing is that the violence gave birth to my amazing Patrick. In actuality, I chose not to have an abortion even though it was a really difficult scenario for a single mother.”

“That man came back and demanded that I have an abortion when he found out that I was pregnant,” she went on. I didn’t consider getting rid of my creature for even a second!

“With him I was practically an employee, a subordinate who was paid a month for the four films I made a year: I didn’t even call him by name, but by surname,” Cardinale claimed of Cristaldi, who ruled her life. I felt enslaved, and my parents were enraged.He was the one with me since I wasn’t in love. In summary, Cristaldi was undoubtedly a fantastic producer, but it’s best to ignore his personal life.

Her career was unaffected by her toxic marriage to Cristaldi, which she ended in 1975.

The natural beauty immediately established herself as one of Italy’s top actors after starring alongside Omar Sharif in the French-Tunisian film Goha. After that, she landed major parts in Rocco and his Brothers (1960) and The Leopard (1963), costarring with Burt Lancaster, which won an Oscar. She also acted in Marcello Mastroianni’s film 8½. Award-winning director Martin Scorsese lists both of the movies in which she portrayed an apparently unachievable object of desire as two of his top 12.

‘Italian Brigitte Bardot’

Gaining traction in Hollywood, she starred alongside David Nivens in The Pink Panther and then shared the screen with legends like John Wayne and Rita Hayworth in 1964’s Circus World.

Credit: Shutterstock

Celebrated for her performance as a sex worker in the 1968 American-Italian production Once Upon a Time in the West, Cardinale shared the screen with legendary actors Charles Bronson, Jason Robards, and Henry Fonda.

However, viewers relished witnessing Cardinale, also known as the Italian Brigitte Bardot, alongside her friend and adversary, the genuine Bardot, in 1971’s The Legend of Frenchie King. What distinguished her from Bardot? “I always thought it was more erotic to leave some room to imagination, hinting at things rather than showing everything,” she claimed, denying ever having shown up nude in a movie.

Hollywood work was lucrative but also demanding. Cardinale stated that she wished to leave the patriarchal Hollywood system in a Life article that called her “the most admired international film star since Sophia Loren.” Cardinale made the statement, “If I have to give up the money, I give it up,” in reference to the lesser pay in Europe. I want to avoid seeming cliche.

‘You cannot stop time’

Cardinale stated that even if her career has slowed down, she is content to have left the sexualized spotlight behind.

My childhood desire was to travel the world. And I succeeded in doing it. I never changed my appearance, and I never was nude. It really doesn’t appeal to me. Since time cannot be stopped, I prefer to be who I am,” Cardinale remarked.

In 1975, Cardinale wed Italian director Pasquale Squitieri, with whom he remained until his passing in 2017. Claudia is the couple’s lone daughter.

Cardinale responded to reports in 2022 that she had been hospitalized against her will. She claimed to be in good health and to be living adjacent to her family in France. I also want to wish a pleasant summer to all.

As the goodwill ambassador for the Defense of Women’s Rights at UNESCO, Cardinale is actively working with the organization these days.

Claudia Cardinale led a life that was both successful and terrible. We hope she stays well and that her tale will continue to motivate other women, as it is truly admirable. What is your preferred Cardinale movie?

Am I Wrong for Refusing to Keep Providing Free Childcare for My Stepdaughter?

All I ask is a few minutes of your time to hear my ordeal. Months after providing free childcare for my stepdaughter, I made a choice to refuse when things went too far. Now I need you to tell me — was I really wrong for not giving in to her bizarre demands and refusing to babysit her child?

Retirement was supposed to be my time to relax, travel, and maybe take up gardening. Instead, I became “Grandma Daycare,” a title I wore proudly. I’d retired when my first grandchild was born, and over the years, I’d babysat all five of my grandchildren, both from my kids and stepkids.

An older woman with her grandchild | Source: Pexels

An older woman with her grandchild | Source: Pexels

“Grandma, tell us the story about the dancing bear again!” little Tommy would beg, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

“No, the princess one!” Lily would counter, climbing onto my lap.

Those moments made my heart swell. Their laughter was worth every second of exhaustion, even on the hardest days. It wasn’t always easy, but I loved it.

Whether it was finger painting, bedtime stories, or comforting a feverish toddler, I poured my heart and soul into caring for them. My days were busy but fulfilling.

A cheerful grandmother babysitting a toddler | Source: Midjourney

A cheerful grandmother babysitting a toddler | Source: Midjourney

“You’re a miracle worker,” my son James once said, watching me juggle three kids while baking cookies. “I don’t know how you do it.”

“Love,” I replied simply. “Love makes everything possible, dear.”

Alice, my stepdaughter, was the last one to have a baby. Her daughter, Ellie, was born when my schedule was already full. I watched my 18-month-old grandson Monday through Friday and handled the older kids during summer breaks.

I wasn’t sure I could take on another child, but I was open to helping where I could.

Unfortunately, Alice and her boyfriend, Sam, made that almost impossible.

A young couple | Source: Unsplash

A young couple | Source: Unsplash

Alice and Sam had always been a bit high-maintenance, but I wasn’t prepared for the three-page list they handed me when Alice was just ten weeks pregnant.

“We’ve put together some rules,” Alice said, her voice overly casual. “If you’re going to babysit my baby, you’ll need to agree to these.”

I skimmed the list, and my jaw nearly hit the floor.

“I can’t cook? I can’t have more than one other grandchild over? And what’s this about my cat? Muffin has to stay out of the baby’s rooms, even when your baby’s not here?” I looked at them incredulously. “This is… a lot.”

A shocked senior woman holding a piece of paper | Source: Midjourney

A shocked senior woman holding a piece of paper | Source: Midjourney

Sam folded his arms. “It’s for our baby’s safety.”

“Safety?” My voice rose. “I raised three children, helped raise two stepchildren, and have been caring for four grandchildren without a single incident. What exactly are you implying about my capabilities?”

“Times have changed, Ruby,” Sam said dismissively. “There are new studies, new recommendations —”

“New recommendations about cooking?” I interrupted, my hands trembling with anger. “About having siblings and cousins around? About cats that have been part of the family longer than you have?”

“Mom,” Alice pleaded, “we just want what’s best for our baby.”

A young woman looking frustrated | Source: Midjourney

A young woman looking frustrated | Source: Midjourney

“I’m sure you mean well,” I said, handing the list back, fighting to keep my voice steady, “but this won’t work for me. You’ll need to find other childcare.”

Their faces fell, but I stood my ground.

Months later, Alice called me in a panic. Her voice cracked with desperation. “Mom, our sitter canceled last minute. Can you watch Ellie tomorrow? Just for the day?”

I hesitated. “You know I won’t be following those rules, right? I’ll provide safe and appropriate care, but I won’t be micromanaged.”

Alice sighed. “That’s fine. We just really need help.”

That “one day” turned into four months. While Alice was somewhat tolerable, Sam was a nightmare. Every time he picked Ellie up, he’d make snide comments about Muffin, the number of kids I had over, or whether I’d cooked that day.

A senior woman holding a baby | Source: Midjourney

A senior woman holding a baby | Source: Midjourney

One afternoon, as I read to Ellie and her cousin, Sam arrived early.

“Well, well,” he sneered, “I see we’re breaking rules again. Two kids at once? How dangerous.”

I held Ellie closer, feeling her tiny fingers grip my shirt. “Sam, if you have concerns, we can discuss them like adults. But not in front of the children.”

He scoffed. “I guess we don’t have a choice but to put up with this for now.”

And the other day, he said, “I guess you’re happy you won, Ruby.”

An annoyed young man | Source: Midjourney

An annoyed young man | Source: Midjourney

By Sunday nights, I’d started dreading the week ahead. The joy I once felt watching my grandkids was overshadowed by Sam’s constant negativity and Alice’s relentless questioning:

“Did the baby cry? Did you change her diaper twice? Did you feed her?”

I had raised kids on my own — did they really think I was new to this whole motherhood thing? Some days were worse than others, but I let it slide, chalking it up to them being “new parents” trying too hard to get everything right.

A heartbroken senior woman sitting on the couch | Source: Midjourney

A heartbroken senior woman sitting on the couch | Source: Midjourney

Thanksgiving was the breaking point. I’d told Alice and Sam well in advance that I’d have all my grandkids over during the holiday break. But Sam wasn’t happy.

“This isn’t safe,” he said during one particularly tense pickup. “You can’t watch all those kids and take care of Ellie properly.”

“I’ve been doing this for years, Sam,” I said, trying to keep my voice level. “All these children are family. They love each other, they look out for each other, and there’s nothing to worry about here.”

“That’s not good enough,” he interrupted. “Ellie needs individual attention. She needs —”

“Then make other arrangements,” I said calmly.

Of course, they didn’t.

An annoyed man holding a baby | Source: Midjourney

An annoyed man holding a baby | Source: Midjourney

On the first day of Thanksgiving break, Sam picked Ellie up and made another snide comment, this time directly to her. “I’m sorry, my baby. I guess we have no choice but to leave you in an unsafe situation to be neglected.”

My heart shattered. Seven-month-old Ellie might not have understood the words, but I felt humiliated. Her lower lip trembled, and she began to cry.

“How dare you,” I whispered, my voice shaking with rage. “How dare you poison her against me? Against her family?”

I scooped Ellie up, soothing her tears while glaring at Sam. “You can criticize me all you want, but don’t you dare use this precious child as a weapon in your petty war.”

A senior woman having an emotional breakdown | Source: Midjourney

A senior woman having an emotional breakdown | Source: Midjourney

Sam opened his mouth to argue, but I cut him off. “You may think you’re the expert at everything, but let me remind you — respect is earned, not demanded. And right now? You’re running on empty.”

Sam scoffed, crossing his arms. “Respect? You mean like the respect you show by ignoring our rules? Funny, because from where I’m standing, you’re the one who’s out of line.”

That was it.

I called Alice that night, my voice hoarse from holding back tears. “You have two weeks to find other childcare. And from now on, Sam is not welcome here. If he comes to pick Ellie up, I won’t watch her again.”

An angry woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

An angry woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

“Mom, please,” Alice begged. “He didn’t mean —”

“He meant every word,” I cut her off. “And your silence makes you complicit. Two weeks, Alice. That’s final.”

Alice reluctantly agreed, and for a while, things improved. However, on New Year’s Day, I received several texts from friends with screenshots of a post that Sam had made on his social media page.

“Thankful we finally found someone safe to watch Ellie after dealing with a HORRIBLE babysitter,” the post read. He tagged me and added, “Some people just aren’t cut out for childcare.”

What hurt the most? Alice had liked the post.

A shocked senior woman staring at her phone | Source: Midjourney

A shocked senior woman staring at her phone | Source: Midjourney

I was LIVID. After months of free childcare, enduring Sam’s endless criticism and Alice’s never-ending demands, this was how they repaid me? I collapsed into my husband’s arms, sobbing.

“Thirty years,” I choked out. “I’ve been caring for children for 30 years. How can they say I’m not cut out for it?”

“They’re wrong,” he whispered, stroking my hair. “Everyone knows they’re wrong.”

I decided right then and there: I was done.

A few days later, Alice called again. “Mom, the daycare dropped Ellie. Can you start watching her again?”

An anxious young woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

An anxious young woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

I took a deep breath, steadying myself against the kitchen counter. “I’m sorry for your situation, Alice, but I can’t do it. I don’t feel comfortable watching Ellie anymore.”

“Please, Mom,” she sobbed. “We don’t have anyone else. I might have to quit my job!”

“Maybe you should have thought about that before letting Sam publicly humiliate me. Before liking his cruel post.”

“That was stupid, I know,” she admitted. “I just… I felt trapped between you and him. Please, Mom. We’ll do anything.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” I whispered, tears rolling down my cheeks. “But sometimes ‘anything’ comes too late.”

A sad woman engaged on a phonecall | Source: Midjourney

A sad woman engaged on a phonecall | Source: Midjourney

Later, I found out the truth. The daycare hadn’t dropped Ellie — her parents had left because they couldn’t afford it. Alice and Sam hadn’t realized daycare didn’t provide essentials like diapers, wipes, and formula. They’d assumed $350 a week covered everything. Sam had also been shocked to learn that one worker cared for five infants at a time.

Now, they were scrambling. Sam had to sell his dirt bike, and Alice sold all her designer handbags to afford their child’s daycare.

My husband and stepson think I should reconsider for Ellie’s sake. “Sam’s the problem,” they argue. “Why punish Alice and Ellie for his behavior?”

A distressed woman lost in deep thought | Source: Midjourney

A distressed woman lost in deep thought | Source: Midjourney

One night, during a heated family dinner, my stepson took a jab at me. “If this were your own daughter’s child, you’d forgive and move on.”

The room fell silent. I set down my fork, hands trembling.

“How dare you,” I whispered, tears stinging my eyes. “How dare you suggest I love any of my grandchildren less than others. I’ve poured my heart and soul into this family for decades. I’ve loved your children as my own. But love doesn’t mean accepting abuse.”

“Mom’s right,” my daughter Sarah spoke up, her voice fierce. “You all saw how Sam treated her. How Alice enabled it. Would you let someone treat your mother that way?”

A furious woman crossing her arms | Source: Midjourney

A furious woman crossing her arms | Source: Midjourney

My stepson’s words stung, but they weren’t true. I’d always treated my stepkids and biological kids equally. The difference was respect. My own kids and their spouses respected me. But Alice and Sam didn’t.

Ellie eventually returned to daycare, and I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. I could finally enjoy my time with my other grandkids without Sam’s negativity hanging over me.

One morning, while watching my grandson paint, he looked up at me with serious eyes.

“Grandma,” he said, “why doesn’t cousin Ellie come anymore?”

My heart clenched. “Sometimes, sweetheart, grown-ups have disagreements that make it hard to be together. But that doesn’t mean we love Ellie any less.”

A little boy with curious eyes | Source: Midjourney

A little boy with curious eyes | Source: Midjourney

“I miss her,” he said.

“Me too, baby,” I whispered. “Me too.”

Alice and Sam are learning the hard way that free childcare isn’t a right — it’s a privilege.

So, am I wrong for refusing to keep watching Ellie? Maybe. But respect is a two-way street. If they can’t appreciate the help they’ve been given, they’ll have to figure it out themselves.

Last week, I saw Alice at the grocery store. She looked tired and stressed. Our eyes met across the produce section, and for a moment, I saw my little girl again — the one who used to run to me with skinned knees and broken hearts, trusting me to make everything better.

But I’m not that kind of bandage anymore. To all the Sams and Alices of the world: grandma isn’t a free nanny.

A determined senior woman | Source: Midjourney

A determined senior woman | Source: Midjourney

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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