Producers swiftly recognized the striking new talent, but beneath Claudia Cardinale’s composed exterior lay a harrowing truth—she was expecting a child following a brutal attack by an older man. She turned down many roles until producer Franco Cristaldi presented her with an opportunity for fame and security. In 2017, Cardinale openly discussed the sexual assault she suffered during her adolescence. Instead of allowing the trauma to define her, she opted to embrace motherhood and advance her career.
This Iconic 60s Beauty Was a Hollywood Legend — See Her Now at 86
