Sophia Loren The first actress to win an academy award for a non-English speaking film, Sofia Villani Scicolone (Later called Sophia Loren) was born in Pozzuli, Italy on September 20, 1934. Her career began in 1951 and has continued through today.

Her early life was a difficult beginning. Her father left her mother without support, refusing to marry her, even though they had another daughter together 4 years later, Loren’s sister Anna Maria.

During World War II, Loren and her family were in the middle of danger. Pozzuli was regularly bombed by the Allies. One day when Loren was running to the shelter, shrapnel hit her in the chin, leaving a wound. Distant relatives in Naples took the girls and their mother in until the war ended.

When the war was over, the family moved back to Pozzuli, living with Loren’s grandmother, who sold homemade cherry liquor in a pub in their living room. Her mother played the piano, her sister sang, and Loren waited tables and cleaned the dishes. It was a popular spot for American GIs.

Loren’s first movie role was that of an extra in Quo Vadis, when she was 17. Some of her other films include Grumpier Old Men, Nine, Houseboat, Two Women, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, and Marriage Italian-Style.

Some of Loren’s honors include a Golden Globe Award, A Grammy Award, A Laurel Award, and a BAFTA Award. In 2002, she was inducted into the Italian American Hall of Fame. Loren was rated #21 of 25 top American female screen legends of all time, received an honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement, and was even recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most awarded Italian actress.