ADORED Pink Panther and Once Upon A Time In The West actress Claudia Cardinale has died at 87.
The Italian film star died in Nemours, France, surrounded by her children, her agent told French media.
Cardinale graced more than 100 films and TV productions in glittering career of more than seven decades.
She won a beauty contest in her birthplace of Tunisia, where she was raised by Sicilian parents, at the age of 17.
In that competition, she won a trip to the Venice Film Festival – kick-starting her acting career.
She had expected to become a schoolteacher before she entered the beauty contest.
read more in entertainment
Cardinale gained international fame in 1963 when she starred in both Federico Fellini’s 8-1/2 and The Leopard.
Her two most famous roles came in 1968 when she starred in the comedy The Pink Panther and Sergio Leone’s Once Upon A Time In The West.
The actress herself, however, considered 1966’s The Professionals as the jewel of her Hollywood films.
When she was awarded a lifetime achievement at the Berlin Film Festival in 2002, she reflected that she acting had been a “marvellous” career.
She said: “I’ve lived more than 150 lives, prostitute, saint, romantic, every kind of woman, and that is marvellous to have this opportunity to change yourself.
“I’ve worked with the most important directors. They gave me everything.”
Cardinale was named a goodwill ambassador for the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation for the defence of women’s rights in 2000.
She leaves behind two children.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun