She was dubbed “the original Italian over-stuffed star,” a precursor to Sophia Loren, who would soon claim the public imagination as the quintessential Italian spitfire.
, a ruby-lipped bombshell encased in clinging gowns, whose presence in comedies, romances and adventures powered a rebellion against neorealism.
As a result, the younger Loren conquered Hollywood first. Ms. Lollobrigida, who often stoked their rivalry, would later cattily remark to Life, “We are as different as a fine race horse and a goat.” She was also litigious, filing as many as 10 lawsuits at a time. She sued producers for what she alleged were broken promises and sicced her lawyers on advertisers and publications she claimed had used her image without permission. According to Time, she prevailed over an Italian film critic for his disparaging description of her “udder.”In interviews, Ms.
“We were so poor I made my shoes from stable straw,” she later told the Weekly World News. After Italy’s surrender, she sang and sold sketches to American GIs. She used the money she earned to pay for singing lessons and won a scholarship to the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome.A chance encounter with a studio official led to roles as a movie extra and then to gradually bigger parts. She also worked as a model and won the title of Miss Rome before placing third in the Miss Italy competition.
Weary after six weeks in gold-plated captivity, Ms. Lollobrigida said she broke down during a 2 a.m. meeting with Hughes and signed a contract. Only then was she allowed to fly home.
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