The voluptuous Sophia Loren was among the most successful international stars of the postwar era, not only did she rise to fame as a sex symbol, but she also won a measure of critical acclaim rarely afforded most of her foreign-born contemporaries. After winning a beauty contest in Rome, Loren was signed to a film contract by producer Carlo Ponti, who began grooming her for stardom by recruiting drama coaches and casting her in movies. Sophia Loren began her film career in 1951 and came to be regarded as one of the worlds most beautiful women. Loren won the Best Actress Academy Award for the film Two Women in 1961 and an Oscar Academy Honorary Award in 1991. By the mid-'50s, Loren was a star in Italy as well as a major sex symbol.

@kozachok, September 27th 2021