They are two of the biggest stars in the history of Seventh Art. Two of the most beautiful and desirable creatures who have scattered the gold dust of their legend in the dark halls and fantasies of men and women.
And yes. Once upon a time, fate brought them together. Or more accurately, the phone call from their agent. Η Sophia Loren met the Carrie Grant, for the first time on the set of her maiden American film, «The Pride and the Passion» (1957). Where the 30 years older than her English charmer (with dual citizenship, being an American citizen since the mid-40s) fell madly in love with her.
But such a love was impossible to thrive. Lauren was then still an inchoate girl of only 23 years of age, while her middle-aged co-star was now a veteran of life. With all that entailed. In addition, Grant was on his third marriage (soon to be dissolved) while her eventual sole life partner lurked around the corner, Carlo Ponti. Po may have also been much older than her (22 years to be exact) but he had the rest of the package. So he was Italian and unremarkable in a way. So he didn't have the weight of fame to add to her that might have overshadowed her own star that was shining at the time. She belonged “to her own world”, as she says.
«I was too young to have clear ideas about love and relationships,» the Italian star told Radio Times. And she made it clear that despite her young age, she didn't hesitate for a moment to make the right decision. Which she has never regretted. The only thing she has some bitterness about is that she never wore a wedding dress. And that is something that to this day at 86, leaves her with a sense of unrequited.
And it is perhaps the only one, as she believes there are no decisions she regrets and feels she has lived a full, peaceful life. Something that has been the goal for her since she was still an immature child stepping out into the arena of life.
What about Grant? She remained friends with Archie Leach (the Hollywood legend's real name) until his death in 1986. In fact, she still possesses the fiery passion letters he sent her for years, a memory of a time and moment in her life that will stay with her forever.
Sophia Loren is currently at the forefront of the news, as her new film, directed by her son Edoardo Ponti (there's also Carlo Ponti Jr., who is a musician), comes out on Netflix on November 13.
The Life Ahead is based on a Goncourt-winning novel by Romain Gary (written under the pseudonym Emile Azhar), which has already been made into a film with Simone Signoret. It tells the story of the tender relationship that develops between Madame Rosa, a Jewish Holocaust survivor, and a young immigrant of African descent, Momo, who steals her purse. Despite their differences in age and cultures, the two become close, Rosa reveals to him the secrets of her life while slowly progressing towards dementia.
