Claudia Cardinale, the Tunisian-born Italian star of The Leopard, 8 1/2 and The Pink Panther, has died at the age of 87.
She had a six-decade long career, rising to fame during the golden age of Italian cinema, and was directed by greats such as Federico Fellini and Luchino Visconti.
The actress died at Nemours in France in the company of her children, according to her agent Laurent Savry.
She leaves us the legacy of a free and inspired woman both as a woman and as an artiste, Savry told AFP news agency.
Born in Tunisia to Sicilian parents in April 1938, Cardinale won a beauty contest at 16 that saw her declared the most beautiful Italian woman in Tunis.
The prize was a trip to the Venice film festival, where she was approached by directors and producers to become involved in filmmaking.
Her early career was marked by challenges, including a traumatic personal experience during her teenage years, which influenced her drive to succeed in the film industry.
Known for her exceptional roles in classic films, Cardinale's breakthrough came when she starred in Fellini's Oscar-winning 8 1/2 and the critical darling The Leopard in 1963. Critics hailed her as the embodiment of postwar European glamour.
Reflecting on her career, Cardinale shared the numerous roles she undertook, embracing the complexity and variety of characters she portrayed. In a tribute, Italy's Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli called her one of the greatest Italian actresses of all time, embodying Italian grace.
Cardinale remained active in the industry into her 80s, with her legacy enduring as an advocate for women's rights and a symbol of cinema's golden age.
