The icon of Italian cinema of the 1950s and 1960s, Gina Lollobrigida, died Monday at the age of 95.
Artists and politicians have expressed their admiration and sadness for the one Orson Welles considered
"The most fabulous woman in the world, the queen".
It was Gennaro Sangiuliano, the Italian Minister of Culture, who announced the news on Twitter, hailing his talent:
“Farewell to a diva of the big screen, protagonist of more than half a century of Italian cinema history.
Its charm is eternal.
Ciao Lollo.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid tribute to
“a very talented, passionate, intense, exciting actress.
An icon of Italian cinema, one of the most important interpreters of his generation, who has contributed to spreading the image of Italy throughout the world”.
In a press release relayed by the Italian media, Sophia Loren, who was considered her great rival, said she was
"deeply upset and saddened"
.
Ornella Muti, followed suit expressing deep sadness:
“With the death of Gina Lollobrigida, another great star of Italian cinema is leaving.
Seeing all the great stars of Italian cinema die has a certain effect on me.
I started my career when I was only 15 and it is very painful to see a whole world of artists with whom I collaborated disappear,”
the actress told the Italian press agency. Adnkronos.
In all modesty, actor Antonio Banderas also honored his talent: “
A great legend of Italian cinema is leaving us.
Rest in peace
,” he wrote on social media.
The writer Jean des Cars, who knew Gina Lollobrigida well, paid her a poignant tribute.
For
Le Figaro
, he remembers:
“My mother, actress, singer and speaker of several languages, had been in charge of teaching French to Gina for the film
“Notre-Dame de Paris”
.
She became a close friend and, single, I had a strong feeling for her... When I got married, she took splendid photos of my wife, of Laurence (current President and Director of the Louvre), of our son Louis .
I found her on various shoots.
In Madrid, for
Solomon and the Queen of Sheba
, when Yul Brynner took over the role of Tyrone Power, victim of a heart attack, she taught him the recipe for spaghetti carbonara.
Judging that it lacked depth, he added vodka!
Our quartet (Monique, Laurence, Louis and me) will not be able to forget a dinner at her house, 223 Via Appia Antica, in Rome, where she was a bit of a star of “Italian Sunset Boulevard” but fascinating for the number of high personalities she had photographed... When my mother died, Gina had her grave covered with a huge wreath of flowers.
A talented photographer, Gina made moving portraits of our quartet, which I now look at with even more emotion…”
Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu accompanied her tribute with a touching photo, representing her, hand in hand, with the elegant and smiling Italian actress: “
RIP Gina Lollobrigida!
A movie icon, a legendary movie diva like no other
.
Politicians are not left out.
The communist deputy from the North Fabien Roussel celebrated, in addition to his talent, his political commitment, the Italian actress having announced during the last elections, at 95, her candidacy for the Senate.
"Mythical actress, star of "Fanfan la Tulipe", Gina Lollobrigida was also a committed woman, fiercely attached to democracy and freedom.
Ciao Gina”.
Read alsoActress Gina Lollobrigida, 95, candidate for the Senate in Italy
Cannes Mayor David Lisnard LR celebrates her prodigious beauty
.
“She had the solar grace of the sparkling Roman and an irresistible sex appeal that marked the cinema, from Fanfan la Tulipe, with the Cannes filmmaker Gérard Philipe, to the Imperial Venus, without forgetting Esmeralda.
Always majestic and with a velvet look, Gina Lollobrigida is leaving».
On the institutional side, the Cinémathèque evokes a great career, the Italian actress having filmed for the greatest filmmakers:
"Revealed in Fanfan la Tulipe by Christian Jaque in 1952, unforgettable Esmeralda in Notre-Dame de Paris by Jean Delannoy, she had played for the greatest: René Clair, Luigi Comencini, John Huston, Mario Monicelli, King Vidor… Ciao Gina Gina Lollobrigida (1927 – 2023)”.
