Style Icon Sophia Loren Turns 82

Hollywood icon and screen siren Sophia Loren turns 82 on Sept. 20.

The actress was born on Sept. 20, 1934, and raised in Italy throughout World War II. Loren garnered fame in her home country starring in roles where she often played smart, independent and strong-willed women. Her roots in Italy’s countryside and gorgeous on-screen looks won her loyal fans with Italian and U.S. audiences.

Loren appeared in more than 100 films during her half-decade career. In 1953, she got her breakout role in producer (and future husband) Carlo Ponti’s film adaptation of Verdi’s opera “Aida.” Her other film hits included “Gold of Naples” (1954), “The Black Orchid” (1958) and “Houseboat” (1958). She won a Best Actress Academy Award for 1960’s WWII epic “Two Women” and was the first actress to win the award for a foreign language performance. Her roles continued through the 1990s, and most recently, she starred in the 2014 film “Human Voice,” which was directed by her son.

January 1955: Sophia Loren in a gown designed by Emilio Schuberth while in Rome.

CREDIT: AP Images.

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While Loren’s acting chops and charisma are certainly to be reckoned with, the actress was also a hit on the fashion scene, too. She holds one of Vogue magazine’s iconic covers for the British edition in July 1965.

Loren has also often been embraced by the fashion world as a muse and inspiration. Giulietta designer Sofia Sizzi credits Loren with inspiring looks from her line, and Grigorio Armani has presented runway shows inspired by the actress’s bombshell looks. Loren not surprisingly also is often front row for the Armani Prive collections. The actress was one of the first to enter to beauty business with her own signature fragrance, Sophia.

1957: Loren photographed around the same time her film “The Pride and the Passion” was released.

CREDIT: Courtesy of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

1970: Loren on set of “The Priest’s Wife.”

CREDIT: REX Shutterstock.

Besides fashion’s love for Loren, the actress was known on the silver screen in the 1950s and 1960s for costumes that embraced her curves. She was the height of glamour, but off-screen, her style was still feminine but comfortable. In the 1960s, she was often spotted in comfortable flats and started wearing oversized glasses, which became a signature for her.