Nobody believed in their love. The aspiring actress and model Sophie was only 16, director Carlo Ponti was 38. They were completely different – both in upbringing and in worldview. They were predicted to have a bright but fleeting romance. Everything turned out differently: the lovers spent their entire lives together.
They turned out to be an ideal couple, despite the many trials and problems that befell them. Carlo Ponti taught his young wife everything and made her a world movie star.
From an ugly duckling to a beautiful swan
Born in 1934, Sofia had a hungry war and post-war childhood. The girl grew up skinny – her mother did not have enough food to feed her and her other daughters. At school, the thin Sofia Scicolone was nicknamed Toothpick. This offended her to tears. But by the age of 14, the situation had changed: the girl literally blossomed, and not only her peers but also adult men began to follow her with their eyes.
The mother of the future star did not lose her head – she sent her daughter to a beauty contest. And Sophie became the winner. She was offered a contract with a modeling agency, which the girl signed without hesitation. A completely different life began – fashion shows, photo shoots, contests…
Meeting Carlo Ponti
Carlo Ponti was on the jury at one of the beauty shows. He immediately noticed a girl with interesting and unusual facial features. In a conversation with Sophie, he offered her to star in one of his films – it was a pity to let the bright beauty go, he wanted to capture her charm on the screen.
Refused to have plastic surgery
When young Sophie showed up at the film studio, she heard not only compliments, but also some unpleasant things. It turned out that she needed to lose weight and change the shape of her nose.
Despite her youth and inexperience, the temperamental Italian was not going to listen to such things and change her appearance to please someone. She furiously slammed the door, leaving the film studio.
New name and new life
But Carlo Ponti found her again. He was delighted with her behavior and decided that Sophia would perfectly cope with the main role in his film “Anna”. She agreed – and received a new name from the director: instead of “Sofia Scicolone”, she was now called Sophia Loren. The pseudonym was needed not only for the sound, but also to hide Sophia’s dubious origins: she was illegitimate, and this was always viewed with condemnation in Italy.
Ponti had a difficult task. A beautiful but provincial girl had to be turned into a real aristocrat, one who would drive everyone around her crazy, not only with her natural charm, but also with her royal, impeccable manners.
Taught me how to sway my hips seductively
Hard times began for Sophie. At the insistence of her director, she mastered English and art history, listened to classical music, polished her etiquette skills… Carlo threw out all her dresses, buying instead the “right” clothes that elegantly emphasized her figure. He taught Sophie not only how to do her hair and make-up – with his help, the girl developed a seductive gait, learning to swing her hips with every step.
Secret meetings of lovers
Over the course of several years, their collaboration and friendship turned into something more. 19-year-old Sophie realized that she had fallen head over heels in love with her mentor. He, too, was not indifferent to the charms of the beautiful Sophie. But the development of their romance was hindered by Carlo’s status – he was married. Well, the lovers met secretly – they were irresistibly drawn to each other.
Sophie’s mother, who had once given birth without a husband and experienced all the “delights” of such a life, was horrified. This was not at all what she wanted for her daughter when she sent her to a beauty contest! But the girl did not listen to her mother’s persuasion. She loved – and was not going to give up her love.
Divorce is impossible
Sophie cherished the dream that one day her beloved idol would divorce his wife, then they would get married and be happy for the rest of their lives. But… In Catholic Italy, divorces have always been treated very negatively. The Vatican did not give its consent to this step, although Carlo Ponti sent requests again and again.
By that time, Sophia Loren had become a real movie star – all of Italy adored her, and her films were released one after another. Her fast-paced career, of course, made the actress happy, but it did not give her complete happiness – Sophia never stopped dreaming of a family with her loved one, of children.
Cary Grant proposed to her
In 1956, when Sophie was 22, she starred in the film “The Pride and the Passion.” Her co-star, the handsome actor Cary Grant, immediately fell in love with the sultry Italian and proposed to her. Sophie found herself at a crossroads. On the one hand, there were shaky prospects with Carlo Ponti, an affair that would end in an unknown outcome. On the other, there was the adoration of a famous artist and a legal marriage.
Thinking about what to do, Sophie allowed Grant to court her. They played love in front of the camera – and it looked so convincing that Ponti became seriously jealous. Driven to the limit by this strong feeling, the director offered Sophie the best solution – to conclude a secret marriage in Mexico. And the actress agreed: it was better than nothing.
A secret marriage and condemnation throughout Italy
When this became known in Italy, everyone condemned the director and the actress. Carlo was called a bigamist – after all, a Mexican marriage was not considered valid in his homeland. Sophia had to listen to many offensive words and curses addressed to her – the Italians accused her of illegal cohabitation and did not mince words.
Escape from the country and a second wedding
Such a powerful scandal broke out that the lovers had no choice but to flee the country. They had to live abroad for five years – in Switzerland and France. Of course, it was bitter to realize that their homeland had been lost. But the escape also brought a good result: in France they were able to get married for the second time – this time “for real”, and became citizens of that country.
Sons of Suffering
By this time, Sophie had already turned 32. She was happy that all the trials were behind her, and now she could finally become a parent and raise children. But she had to go a long and difficult road to this goal. Having become pregnant, she was unable to carry the child to term — she had a miscarriage. A few years later, another one. The actress desperately dreamed of a child. In order to carry and give birth to a baby, she underwent a course of hormone therapy.
She had to spend her third pregnancy locked up: doctors insisted that Sophie lie down all the time, while she was forbidden to watch TV or listen to the radio, and was also advised to refrain from communicating with other people so as not to cause an emotional outburst.
And she succeeded: in 1968, Sophie gave birth to a son and named him in honor of her beloved husband – Carlo. Four years later, another boy was born – Edoardo. It seemed that now, finally, everything was fine in the family of the director and actress.
Prison for a movie star
But troubles were constantly following them. Having accused the couple of tax evasion, the police confiscated the expensive mansion they had been building and furnishing for several years. Moreover, Sophie ended up behind bars and spent 17 days there, and her husband worked in community service for several years. The harsh law made no exceptions even for world-class stars.
They did get back their villa, into which they had invested so much effort, money and love, but this did not happen soon – only in 1990.
Love is a gift from above
It is surprising, but despite the hot southern temperament, Sophie and Carlo lived together for more than half a century – and even the most inventive gossips could not accuse them of affairs on the side. Such rumors simply bounced off them like chaff, because they were not confirmed by anything. Family happiness was too hard for them to jeopardize it. They valued each other and their family too much.
In 2007, Carlo Ponti died. At his funeral, Sophia Loren said: “Our love is a gift from God that only a few are honored with.” The legendary actress is now 90 years old. Several years ago, viewers saw her in the film “The Whole Life Ahead,” which was directed by her son, Edoardo Ponti. Despite her age, Sophia is still as beautiful and attracts everyone’s admiring glances.
