Matinee Classics - Gina Lollobrigida Biography & Filmography

Gina Lollobrigida ACTOR

PHOTOS

GINA LOLLOBRIGIDA BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Gina Lollobrigida was born on July 4th, 1927 in Subiaco, Italy with the birth name Luigina Lollobrigida. Her parents had four daughters total and the family resided in a small village in Italy.

As a young girl she first became involved in modeling and also participated in a number of beauty pageants. In 1947 she tried out for Miss Italy and placed third, which lead to some film opportunities for her in some Italian language films.

After gaining some experience in Italy in he film industry, she was offered a chance to come to the United States from Howard Hughes, however, Gina turned down the chance and instead continued her focus on Italian made films.

Some of the films she appeared in over seas were, "Bread, Love and Dreams" (1953), "Woman of Rome" (1954) and "Beauties of the Night" (1952). She also now decided she would give Hollywood a chance and appeared in the film, "Beat the Devil" (1953) with Humphrey Bogart.

Other American film roles were soon added to her resume such as, "The World's Most Beautiful Woman" (1955), "Trapeze" (1956), "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1956), "Never So Few" (1959) and "Solomon and Sheba" (1959).

Soon Gina won her first Golden Globe Award in 1961 with her role on the film, "Come September". She was now at he top of her career being known as one of the most talented as well as sexiest female actress stars of her era.

Her career did not slow down either, more prominent film roles followed such as on, "Go Naked in the World" (1961), "Venere Imperiale" (1962), "Strange Bedfellows" (1965), "Hotel Paradiso" (1966) and another Golden Globe nomination was received by Gina for her role the 1968 film, "Buono Sera, Mrs. Campbell".

As she began to enter the 1970's, film roles were becoming less available to her and therefore, Gina turned her focus for a little while to television appearing on such series as, "Falcon Crest", "The Adventures of Pinocchio", The Love Boat" and such television movies as, "Deceptions" and La Romana".

Along with having a very successful career as an actress as she began to slow down in the industry, Gina embarked on a new career as a photo journalist and later her worked was published in a book called, "Italia Mia" and another book titled, "Wonder of Innocence" (1994) was also published with another collection of her photographs.

She has married only one time to Milko Skofic whom she wed in 1949 and after having one son, Milko Skofic Jr. together the marriage sadly came to an end in 1971. Now retired from the industry, Gina is very active in Italian American causes such as the, National Italian American Foundation.