Sophia Loren Before Becoming One of the Last Classic Hollywood Stars

This shot of Italian actress Sophia Loren is from her early days in the film industry. As of 2023, she is one of the last surviving major stars of Classical Hollywood cinema and the only living person to appear on AFI’s list of the 50 greatest stars of American film history, ranked 21st.

Loren began her journey to stardom at 16 after winning “Miss Eleganza” in the 1950 Miss Italia pageant. Already a lead actress in Italy, she immediately proved her mettle in the United States when Hollywood beckoned, starting with films like “Boy on a Dolphin” and “Legend of the Lost.”