Sophia Loren Made Oscar History With a Role in Italian
From a beauty contest in 1950 to the first acting Oscar for a non-English performance.
Sophia Loren grew up poor in Pozzuoli, near Naples, during World War II. As a teenager she entered beauty contests, and in 1950 she was a finalist in the Miss Italia pageant, where she was given the title Miss Elegance.
Rising star
She began with small film roles and was soon starring in Italian films. By the late 1950s she was also working in Hollywood alongside stars like Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra.
Two Women
In 1960 she starred in Vittorio De Sica's Two Women (La Ciociara), playing a mother trying to protect her daughter during the war. Her performance was in Italian.
History at the Oscars
In 1962 she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for the role, becoming the first person to win an acting Oscar for a performance in a language other than English. She was so nervous that she stayed home in Rome and heard the news by phone.
Loren continued acting for decades and received an honorary Academy Award in 1991.
This story is based on the stars' own interviews and memoirs and on widely reported history. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it.
