A remarkable celebration took place at the Academy Museum theater in Los Angeles, where legendary Italian actress Sophia Loren received a standing ovation. The sold-out event marked not only her 90th birthday on September 20, but also the inauguration of a retrospective dedicated to her unforgettable performances.
“Being here is really special for me, because Hollywood movies taught me to dream,” Loren said at the beginning of her speech, her tone calm and confident.
Loren shared touching memories of her childhood in Pozzuoli during World War II. Recounting how fear and hunger marked those years, the actress described cinema as a refuge:
“When I was in our little movie theater and the lights went down, my reality disappeared. That little silver screen was my window into a fairy-tale world.” With emotion, he stated that cinema has become his therapy and home. Next to her was her son Edoardo Ponti, who introduced her as “a real star”, underlining not only her success but also the bright simplicity that she transmits through every gesture and look.
The retrospective, curated by Cinecittà and the Academy Museum, opened with a screening of the restored 4K version of Vittorio De Sica’s La Ciociara. This film won her the Palme d’Or at Cannes and an Oscar in 1962, making her the first actress to be awarded for a performance in a language other than English. Through November 30, ten more films will be shown from the nearly one hundred films in which Loren starred in a career spanning more than seventy years. These include classics such as Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow and Marriage Italian Style, along with American productions such as Arabesque and Prêt-à-porter.
Concluding his speech, Laurin stated:
“I’m ninety years old, maybe, but in my heart I’m still that little girl who dreamed of a better tomorrow.” This celebration not only marks the end of a remarkable career but also offers food for thought on the lasting impact of cinema on people’s lives. Sophia Loren continues to inspire generations with her artistry and indomitable spirit.
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