ROME (AP) — Italian film legend Gina Lollobrigida, who achieved international stardom during the 1950s and was dubbed “the most beautiful woman in the world” after the title of one of her movies, died in Rome on Monday, her agent said.
Lollobrigida also was an accomplished sculptor, painter and photographer, and eventually essentially dropped film for the other arts.
Lollobrigida was born on July 4, 1927 in Subiaco, a picturesque hill town near Rome, where her father was a furniture maker.
Lollobrigida began her career in beauty contests, posing for the covers of magazines and making brief appearances in minor films.
On her website, Lollobrigida recalled how her family lost its house during the bombings of World War II and went to live in Rome.