Gina Lollobrigida, the Italian movie actress who became one of the post-World War II era’s first major European sex symbols, passed away on January 16th, 2023 at 95 years old. She was born Luigina Lollobrigida in Subiaco, Italy on July 4th, 1927 to a furniture manufacturer, and grew up in a small mountain village. In 1947, she entered the Miss Italy competition and ended up placing third behind Lucia Bosè and Gianna Maria Canale.
Throughout her career, she starred in films such as Fanfan la Tulipe, Beat the Devil, Trapeze and Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell. She co-starred alongside Humphrey Bogart, Frank Sinatra, Rock Hudson and Errol Flynn, and received numerous marriage proposals from Howard Hughes. Off camera, she feuded with fellow Italian star Sophia Loren. In 2018, she was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Croatian-Slovenian electropop band Lollobrigida, founded in the early 2000s, is named after her.
Unfortunately, Gina Lollobrigida had no children, and no cause of death has been cited. When not acting, she enjoyed photography and politics, and also scooped world press by obtaining an exclusive interview with Fidel Castro. She held court at her villa on Rome’s ancient Appian Way, and was known for her emeralds and her full Norma Desmond purr. Her name was even honored with a kind of curly lettuce called “Lollo”.
Gina Lollobrigida will be remembered as an iconic actress and sex symbol of the 50s and 60s, and her charm and beauty will remain eternal.
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