Sophia Loren's life is a rags-to-riches story. Born Sofia Scicolone in Rome in 1934, she grew up fatherless in the Pozzuoli slums during World War II. By the 1950s, she was playing bit parts in Italian films under the name Sofia Lazzaro - a reference to Lazarus, because people joked that her beauty could raise the dead. By the 1960s, she was an international movie star, with an Oscar under her belt. She remains an icon in the worlds of film and fashion and was honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on May 4, 2011.
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Sophia Loren: A life in pictures

A visual homage to Oscar-winning Italian actress Sophia Loren.

Sophia Loren's life is a rags-to-riches story. Born Sofia Scicolone in Rome in 1934, she grew up fatherless in the Pozzuoli slums during World War II. By the 1950s, she was playing bit parts in Italian films under the name Sofia Lazzaro - a reference to Lazarus, because people joked that her beauty could raise the dead. By the 1960s, she was an international movie star, with an Oscar under her belt. She remains an icon in the worlds of film and fashion and was honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on May 4, 2011.

Sophia Loren’s life is a rags-to-riches story. Born Sofia Scicolone in Rome in 1934, she grew up fatherless in the Pozzuoli slums during World War II. By the 1960s, she was an international movie star, with an Oscar under her belt. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Sophia Loren and her husband, Carlo Ponti, in Paris in 1959. Sophia caught the filmmaker's eye when, at age 14, she placed in a beauty contest. Ponti, 22 years her senior, guided her to take acting classes and helped launch her career. They eventually married and remained together until Ponti's death in 2007.

Sophia Loren and her husband, Carlo Ponti, in Paris in 1959. Sophia caught the filmmaker’s eye when, at age 14, she placed in a beauty contest. Ponti, 22 years her senior, guided her to take acting classes and helped launch her career. They remained together until Ponti’s death in 2007. ( AFP/Getty Images)

Dean Martin and Sophia Loren at the Academy Awards ceremony on April 6, 1959.

Dean Martin and Sophia Loren at the Academy Awards ceremony on April 6, 1959.

 (Harry Chase / Los Angeles Times)

Sophia Loren stars in "La Riffa" ("The Raffle") the Vittorio de Sica-directed episode of the four-episode anthology film about love. Loren's husband, Carlo Ponti, served as a producer on the film in which she played Zoe, a sexy shooting-gallery operator who against her will is offered up as a prize to the best shooter. The other segments were directed by Mario Monicelli, Federico Fellini and Luchino Visconti.

Sophia Loren stars in “La Riffa” (“The Raffle”) the Vittorio de Sica-directed episode of the four-episode anthology film about love. Loren’s husband was a producer on the film in which she played Zoe, a sexy shooting-gallery operator who is offered up as a prize to the best shooter.  (Cinecitta Press Office / EPA)

Sophia Loren and her husband, Carlo Ponti, during the 1960s in Paris.

Sophia Loren and her husband, Carlo Ponti, during the 1960s in Paris.

 (AFP/Getty Images)

Actress Farrah Fawcett–Majors, left, and actor Lee Majors are seen with Sophia Loren at a gala for the Prince of Wales in Beverly Hills on Oct. 27, 1977.

Actress Farrah Fawcett–Majors, left, and actor Lee Majors are seen with Sophia Loren at a gala for the Prince of Wales in Beverly Hills on Oct. 27, 1977.

 (Lennox McLendon / Associated Press)

Sophia Loren arrives for the Oscars in Los Angeles on March 25, 1991.

Sophia Loren arrives for the Oscars in Los Angeles on March 25, 1991.

 (Anacleto Rapping / Los Angeles Times)

Walter Matthau, left, Jack Lemmon and Sophia Loren in the film "Grumpier Old Men."

Walter Matthau, left, Jack Lemmon and Sophia Loren in the film “Grumpier Old Men.”

 (Ron Phillips / Associated Press)

Sophia Loren plants a kiss on Charlton Heston after he presented her with the Cecil B. DeMille Award for her service to the art of filmmaking at the 1995 Golden Globes. Loren and Heston starred opposite one another in the 1961 film "El Cid."

Sophia Loren plants a kiss on Charlton Heston after he presented her with the Cecil B. DeMille Award for her service to the art of filmmaking at the 1995 Golden Globes. Loren and Heston starred opposite one another in the 1961 film “El Cid.”

 (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Sophia Loren and her younger son, Eduardo Ponti, attend a banquet in her honor. Loren's older son is Carlo Ponti Jr.

Sophia Loren and her younger son, Eduardo Ponti, attend a banquet in her honor. Loren’s older son is Carlo Ponti Jr.

 (Alan Berliner / For The Times)

Sophia Loren arrives in Bottrop, June 29, 1996, for the opening ceremony of the then-Warner Bros. Movie World in Germany's steel and coal region, the Ruhr Valley.

Sophia Loren arrives in Bottrop, June 29, 1996, for the opening ceremony of the then-Warner Bros. Movie World in Germany’s steel and coal region, the Ruhr Valley.

 (Heinz Ducklau / Associated Press)

Sophia Loren talks with the managing director of Citizen Watch Germany Ltd., Willi K. Richter, left, during her visit to the Leipzig Clocks, Watches and Jewelry Trade Fair in Leipzig, Germany, on Aug. 30, 1997.

Sophia Loren talks with the managing director of Citizen Watch Germany Ltd., Willi K. Richter, left, during her visit to the Leipzig Clocks, Watches and Jewelry Trade Fair in Leipzig, Germany, on Aug. 30, 1997.

 (Eckehard Schulz / Associated Press)

Sophia Loren and her son, director Edoardo Ponti, attend the gala screening of "Between Strangers," directed by Ponti, during the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 13, 2002.

Sophia Loren and her son, director Edoardo Ponti, attend the gala screening of “Between Strangers,” directed by Ponti, during the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 13, 2002.

 (Donald Weber / Getty Images)

Giorgio Armani, center, and Sophia Loren have some fun on stage with Steve Martin at the fashion show and inaugural "Rodeo Drive Walk of Style" event, honoring fashion designer Armani in Beverly Hills on Sept. 9, 2003.

Giorgio Armani, center, and Sophia Loren have some fun on stage with Steve Martin at the fashion show and inaugural “Rodeo Drive Walk of Style” event, honoring fashion designer Armani in Beverly Hills on Sept. 9, 2003.

 (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)

Sophia Loren during a photo call for "Human Voice" at the Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2014.

Sophia Loren during a photo call for “Human Voice” at the Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2014.

 (Alastair Grant / Associated Press)

Sofia Vergara, left, and Sophia Loren are seen backstage at the Dolby Theatre after a special tribute to Loren at the AFI Film Festival in Hollywood on Nov. 12, 2014.

Sofia Vergara, left, and Sophia Loren are seen backstage at the Dolby Theatre after a special tribute to Loren at the AFI Film Festival in Hollywood on Nov. 12, 2014.

 (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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