Sofia Shikolone (Lauren) was born September 20, 1934, the Office for illegitimate Roman Queen Margaret Hospital ... Her mother, Romilda Vilani, which showed early musical abilities, came to try their luck in Rome from a small fishing village Potstsuoli under Naples. Here she was to meet with Ricardo Shikolone. Learning that his girlfriend is pregnant, he acknowledged his paternity, but refused to marry. Sofia Loren was born on a small, slim and very ugly. Father shot for them in Rome, a small room. Everything was against a young mother: money is not enough, her milk was gone. I had to return in disgrace Potstsuoli.
Then there was war, the hungry years, poverty. Sofia grew timid, closed. "I was so slim that I was given the nickname" stechetto - zherdochka. On the wall of my house is constantly beautiful inscription in chalk: "Sofia - toothpick" - says the actress. But gradually, she blossomed. In the fourteen years to her even posvatalsya a young teacher of physics.
Two years later, in Naples have announced a competition for the title "Queen of the sea." Romilda decided that for her daughter a chance to go to the people. "We had withdrawn from the curtains and sew from her dress ... Much worse was to shoes. I did not have white shoes and black dress for this is not suitable. However, this mother decided quickly, it overdye my old black shoes white. We pray that not only was the rain ... "- recalls with a smile the actress. Beauty brings success Sofia Shikolone. However, her name was announced only in the list of twelve princesses, and the title of "Queen of the sea" reach the other.
Photo — «Sofia Loren»
The mother is now no doubt that Sofia will become an actress, and recorded it in the actors school in Naples. "In this school we were taught a rather simple thing - namely, draw faces, - continues to Lauren. - Never, we are not reading a single line of text. Never tried anything to play ... "
One professor told the students that the Americans in Rome, film and mass scenes required young girls. Of course, Romilda and her daughter went to the capital. Both were accepted. Sophia instructed to portray slave.
A little later Shikolone subsided lady in the movie where the main role played by Anna Magnani and Vittorio Gassman. I hardly think Sofia then that after shooting the film "Chochara" Italians called it "the second Magnani.
When signing a contract with the studio Chinochitta "producer thought it more sonorous name - Lauren. So in light of the actress - Sophia Loren.
"I wanted to be in the films, but films are not like me. In order not to die from starvation, I gave her face comics and magazines. Later still came in the form of cheap movies, mushy movies like "Zorro Dreams," "The six wives of Blue Beard," "Yes, yes, that was it ... I had to play a sexual role. I was forced to become popular and be able to choose the role itself. "
In 1953, Lauren has agreed to pull naked to the waist in the film "Two Nights with Cleopatra", otherwise the director threatened to withdraw from its role. This is a scene filmed for the French version and it never showed in Italy.
She was eighteen when she accidentally turned to the audience of Miss Rome. One member of the jury drew attention to the Sofia and invited her to participate in the contest. Upon learning that the proposal comes from a famous producer Carlo Ponti, she agreed.
Photo — «Sofia Loren»
The next day she came into the office to Carlo Ponti. The first thing he proposed to actress - go to a surgeon and plastic surgery done because she has too big nose. Sofia, however, firmly refused. The producer, of course, could get angry, but he has already been conquered by it.
Carlo Ponti changed her lifestyle, tastes, manners, even cosmetics. He helped Lauren get rid of Naples accent taught to conduct interviews with various people attached to reading, opening her world Balzac, Stendhal, Thomas Mann, Bernard Shaw, Tolstoy and Chekhov. Producer Lauren fulfilled with everything up to the gait. It was, for example, walk along the corridor between two rows of tables with open doors and swinging it one, then another round to close them.
Ponti was twenty centimeters below the Sofia and twenty years older than her. Carlo believed in me and loved me. I knew about it. My sense of it is slowly growing. Once he sent me a small box. Inside was a wedding ring ... "
However, the novel Ponti and Loren were marked and dramatic peripeteia: Carlo was married to Julie Fiastri. They lived together nine years and produced two sons into the world - and Giuseppe Giuliano. The Catholic Church opposes divorce. In 1957, Loren and Ponti did register their marriage in Mexico. This event is raised in Italy, since under the laws of the country became Carlo dvoezhentsem. At the Catholic Cathedral of treatment appeared to the faithful that they have forgotten the names of Loren and Ponti. Their films have been banned.
But next year, Mexicans have issued a law under which foreigners were required before the marriage to provide a certificate of marital status. Thus, the Union Ponti and Loren was considered invalid. Soon, the same decision came Italian court.
At the difficult time the only remedy for Lauren was working.
Photo — «Sofia Loren»
Of course, the more she had to play in cash movies such as "Bread, love and ..."," Poverty and nobility, " Wonderful melnichiha.
Advertising Agents in Hollywood Lauren was invited to work overseas. She has played in the Stanley Kramer
