Top 10 Interesting Facts about Sophia Loren

Sophia Loren at the Cannes Film Festival – By Georges Biard – Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Sophia Loren

Sophia Loren is an alias by Italian actor Sofia Costanza Brigida Villani Scicolone. Born on 20th September 1934, Loren is one of the oldest living stars from the Golden age of Hollywood. This refers to the American filmmaking era between the 1910s and the 1960s.

 She is possibly the most famous actress to come out of Italy. In the course of her career, Loren has had great international success thanks to her immense talent and beauty alike.

She was hailed as one of the most beautiful women in the world at some point, and rightfully so. Despite all the fame and glamour, there is a lot that is not known about Loren.

Below Is a list of fascinating facts about the life of the living legend, Sophia Loren.

1. She Was Discovered at A Beauty Pageant

Naples, Miss Italia 1950 – Sophia Loren (third from left.) – Unknown author – Wikimedia Commons

At 15 years of age, Sophia entered the Miss Italia 1950 beauty pageant. She registered as Sofia Lazzaro for the tournament and was assigned as Candidate No.2.

She was one of the four contestants in the tournament that were representing the Lazio region. Sophia (then Sofia) made it to the final three. She won the title of Miss Elegance in 1950.

2. She Made Her Film Debut At 16 Years of Age

Quo Vadis, a 1951 film by Mervyn Le Roy was Loren’s debut film as an actor. However, her role was small since she appeared as an uncredited extra in the film. She was 16 years old at the time.

Still, in 1951, Sofia appeared in the film Era lui… sì! sì! She was credited this time as Sofia Lazzaro and played an odalisque in the film. What is an odalisque you ask? The term refers to a harem concubine or the artistic genre where a woman is presented as mostly or completely nude.

These were Sophia’s first film appearances. I’ll leave it to you to decide which qualifies as the debut. The uncredited role or the credited one.

3. Changing Her Name to Sophia Loren Was Goffredo Lombardo’s Idea

Italian actress Sophia Loren in her house in Rome – Unknown author – Wikimedia Commons

According to Sophia, she was advised to change a lot about herself including her physical appearance, ‘dominant profile’, and personality. She however refused to do so and remained true to who she was.

However, one thing she was willing to change was her name. At the suggestion of Goffredo Lombardo, Sofia Scicolone changed her name to Sophia Loren. Sophia worked with him in the 1953 film “Africa Under the Seas”.

Loren says that Lombardo said he had to give her a name since people had to know who she was. Having previously worked with a popular actress from Holland by the name of Märta Torén, he used her name as inspiration (if you can call it that).

He anglicized Sofia’s first name and changed the first letter in Torén’s last name. After that, Sofia Scicolone changed her name to Sophia Loren. From then on, Sofia Scicolone became Sophia Loren.

4. She Married Carlo Ponti

Sophia first met 37-year-old Carlo Ponti when she was 15 years old. Although she married him later, their love story was still a long way off at the time. Loren claims that Ponti was respectful and a gentleman and their relationship in the early years was purely professional.

Ponti was still married to his first wife Giuliana, and the two wed by proxy in Mexico on 17th September 1957. In 1962, the marriage was annulled following bigamy charges. In 1966, Ponti obtained a divorce and on 9th April 1966 he married Loren

The two have two children together, Carlo Ponti Jr., born 1968, and Edoardo Ponti born 1973. Loren has four grandchildren. Sadly, Ponti Sr. passed away on 10th January 2007 due to pulmonary complications.

5. She Had an Affair with Cary Grant

Publicity photograph with Cary Grant and Sophia Loren in the American romantic comedy film Houseboat (1958). – By Paramount Pictures – Wikimedia Commons

While filming the 1957 film The Pride and the Passion, Sophia and Cary Grant began an affair. Carry Grant was then married to Betsy Drake.

The pair again co-starred in Houseboat (1958). The film was written by Cary’s then-wife Betsy, who intended for them to star in it together.

However, due to the affair, Cary arranged for Loren to take Betsy’s place in the rewritten script. Betsy Drake asked not to be credited in the film and did not play a part in the production.

The affair ended in hurt and bitterness (as most do) and caused problems in the Houseboat set. Cary wanted to continue with the relationship but Sophia decided to marry Carlo Ponti.

6. She Sued 76 Adult Websites In 1999

Toward the end of 1999, Sophia Loren launched a lawsuit against 76 internet companies. Loren and her legal team claimed they were using her name and body to attract Web Surfers to pornographic sites.

The action was filed in an Indiana court. Loren was citing shame, humiliation, embarrassment, shock, depression, and distress as causes of the suit.

Her lawsuit did not specify damage, but asked for, among other things, “damages and motion for a permanent injunction”.

7. Jailed In 1982

Prison Cell by Ichigo121212 from Pixabay

Sophia Loren has been fighting tax fraud charges since 1974. Italian tax officials claim that she fudged her taxes.

Despite being a high-profile figure in Italy, she surrendered in 1982 and went to jail. It was a 30-day sentence but Loren was released after 17 days.

She claimed that her tax preparer (accountant), who was deceased, had made an error. In 2013, the Rome-based Court of Cassation has now ruled that Ms. Loren’s 1974 tax calculations were not erroneous.

8. She Was Exiled from Italy

Due to catholic regulations, Ponti’s divorce was difficult. However, he managed to ‘secure’ his divorce in a Mexican courtroom and married Sophia with two lawyers standing in for the couple.

Despite being legally married, the Vatican condemned their marriage and the two were exiled and condemned as ‘public sinners’

Having been banished from her home county, the couple left and rented villas and chalets on the French Riviera and in Switzerland. They eventually returned and annulled the marriage.

Later they left Italy and became French citizens following the approval of French Prime Minister Georges Pompidou in 1965. Their reasons for leaving Italy were an escalation of kidnappings that made them fear for their two children’s safety.

9. She Is a S.S.C. Napoli Fan

Football Stadium by Pexels from Pixabay

The infamous actor is a recognized and proud fan of the football club S.S.C. Napoli. Her devout support for the team is unshakable.

In May 2007, the then 72-year-old made a bold promise to the players on the Gazzetta Dello Sport. She promised to do a striptease if the team, who were third, won the Serie B league.

She is a homeowner in Rome and Naples among other parts of Europe.

10. She Has Appeared in Over 100 films

Considering she has been active in the film industry since the early 1950s to date, it is not a surprise. However, this tally is an enormous fete and should not be underrated or underappreciated by any measure.

Sophia, now 87 years old, is still active having released her most recent production in 2021. A documentary titled; What Would Sophia Loren Do?