This celebrity never set out to become a famous actress — that changed when she became pregnant and needed a way to manage the situation. She eventually signed a contract with a man who would later become her husband and adopt her son.

This iconic actress became an international sex symbol after starring in films like “Big Deal on Madonna Street” in 1958. However, she kept a secret about her child — a boy the public believed was her brother. The reason behind this concealment is revealed below.

Becoming an Actress and a Mother

Before she appeared in the 1958 film, this actress had originally planned to become a teacher. However, fate intervened when, at 18, she won the “Most Beautiful Italian Girl in Tunisia” beauty contest in 1957. Her prize was a trip to the Venice Film Festival.

At the festival, she became highly sought after, receiving many offers from producers. But she hesitated to accept them for another reason — she had discovered she was pregnant.

She became pregnant by a man who had no interest in raising the child. In a magazine interview, she later revealed that she had been sexually assaulted. Eventually, she agreed to work with Italian producer Franco Cristaldi, who signed her to an 18-year contract with Vides Cinematografica, his production company.

After the birth of her son Patrick, Cristaldi sent her to London to shield them both from Italian media attention. He later adopted Patrick and, and without prior mention, proposed marriage when they arrived in Las Vegas in 1966.

The pair married in Las Vegas, but their marriage was never legally recognized in Italy. Moreover, the actress never received direct payment for her acting — all earnings went to Cristaldi.

Cristaldi controlled not only her film roles but nearly every aspect of her life. He dictated her hairstyle, prohibited weight gain, and managed her social interactions. During this time, she was seen as a sex symbol in an industry where women, both on and off screen, were viewed as objects of desire, particularly in male-dominated Italian cinema.

Reflecting on her time with Cristaldi, she said, “It was very strict.” She remembered how she wasn’t allowed to go out alone, was underpaid, and received income monthly rather than per film. The most difficult part was being forced to hide her son.

When Patrick re-entered her life, the public was told he was her younger brother. He was raised by her family until the late 1960s. Even after achieving fame as a sex symbol, she transformed into a serious actress and continued her career.

During her time under Cristaldi’s management, she appeared in films such as 1966’s “The Professionals” and acted alongside Rock Hudson in “Blindfold,” forming a lasting friendship with him. That same year, she also starred in “Don’t Make Waves.”

Audiences began seeing a new side of her in films like 1960’s “Rocco and His Brothers,” 1963’s “The Leopard,” 1965’s “Sandra,” and 1974’s “Conversation Piece.” In various interviews, she spoke about her desire to work outside Hollywood.

Wanting Out and Welcoming Another Child

Although Hollywood wanted her to stay in the US, she declined, stating, “I’m European, I cannot stay here.” In a 1966 magazine feature, she was 26 years old, unmarried, and described as the most admired international star since Sophia Loren. She candidly discussed her lack of loyalty to Hollywood.

In the article it wasn’t clear to the writer why she didn’t want stardom in Hollywood as she was described as easy to work with, a director’s dream, and someone with no close family ties at the time. While based in Hollywood, she frequently left to work in Italy, Spain, Brazil, and other countries.

She was paid less in Europe but accepted it, saying, “If I have to give up money, I give it up. I do not want to become a cliché.” In a past interview, she said, “I was doing four movies a year. I was paid almost nothing. When I met the father of Claudia, [sic] he saw that I had nothing in the bank.”

Claudia is her daughter with Italian director Pasquale Squitieri. The two remained together for over 40 years until his death in 2017. The actress eventually broke her contract with Cristaldi and divorced him in 1975.

During the 1970s and 80s, she acted in several poorly received films and even released unsuccessful disco records. However, aging and leaving the sex symbol label behind brought her relief. She shared that glamour was never her motivation for acting.

The actress explained, “When I was young, my dream was to explore the world. And I did it.” She expressed pride in staying true to herself: “I was never naked and I never did anything to change my face. I don’t like that at all. I like to be what I am, because you cannot stop time.”

Still discussing exploitation in the film industry, she stated, “No, no, I always refused to be treated like this. I never accepted to be naked in my films, for example.” Unlike many celebrities, she never hired drivers or bodyguards, enjoyed doing her own stunts, and earned praise from directors for her humility.

In his production diary for “Fitzcarraldo,” filmmaker Werner Herzog described her as a stabilizing presence amid the intense behavior of actor Klaus Kinski.

Herzog wrote, “[Actress’ name] is great help because she is such a good sport, a real trouper, and has a special radiance before the camera. In her presence, [Kinski] usually acts like a gentleman.”

She earned acclaim for her performances and received many honors, including the Career Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1993. Later in life, she began speaking more openly about keeping her son a secret.

The Truth Behind the Secrecy Surrounding Her Son

In a 2015 interview, Claudia Cardinale, then 77, addressed the lie that her son Patrick was her brother. When asked why she had kept the secret, she said, “They made me do it. My producer made me hide the fact because at the time I was very young and it would have caused a scandal.”

She added, “It was dreadful. And then one day I’d had enough and I just told him ‘Basta!'” When asked whether she kept the secret for seven years, she confirmed, “Almost that, it was a terrible time for me.”

Asked how she continued moving forward without becoming trapped in nostalgia like other stars clinging to their past image, she offered a thoughtful reply.

She said, “First, we only live once. But I’ve lived 151 lives in my films. And it’s a magnificent thing to be able to transform yourself like that. But to do this job you also have to be strong on the inside or you risk forgetting who you are.”

The actress continued, “Once Rita Hayworth made me cry. She came into my dressing room on set and burst into tears and she said: ‘Me too, once, I was beautiful [sic].'” Claudia Cardinale revealed that she was still working that year, even at her age.

Remaining active is what matters most to her. Commenting again on the widespread use of cosmetic surgery in Hollywood and the entertainment industry, she said she disapproves of it, reiterating, “because you can’t stop time.”