One could say the classic romance of Ponti and Loren was like a true fairy tale. From the rag Sofia Sciocolone born in poverty to the renowned and dazzling actress, the audience perhaps have known her by many other names throughout her remarkable career, such as Lucia Curcio in
It Started in Naples, Cesira in
Two Women, Filumena Martuarno in
Marriage Italian Style, and Antonietta Taberi in
A Special Day, but to Carlo Ponti, the man who took her under his wing and created the name Sophia Loren as we largely know, she was his “wife,” his “soulmate” and his “great love.” Despite their 22-year gap, the denigrations from many naysayers and the struggles they had to overcome for their marriage to be legally recognized, Loren and Ponti would remain together for a lifetime with their 50-year relationship, until Ponti passed away in January 2007 after 10 days fighting for his life in hospital, and Loren, ever the loyal, had never left his side for the entire time.
Let’s take a look back at their great love through these 27 intimate photographs:
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Sophia Loren kissing husband Carlo Ponti, 1950s. Photo by Pierluigi Praturlon. |
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Sophia Loren in a car with husband Carlo Ponti, 1950s. Photo by Pierluigi Praturlon. |
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Sophia Loren smoking and chatting with her manager Carlo Ponti, 1957. Photo by Loomis Dean for LIFE. |
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Sophia Loren and Carlo Ponti sitting in their living room during the filming of 'The Key,' London, December 1957. Photo by Philippe Le Tellier. |
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Sophia Loren and Carlo Ponti reading 'The Lovers' Pocketbook' in their living room during the filming of 'The Key,' London, December 1957. Photo by Philippe Le Tellier. |
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Sophia Loren and Carlo Ponti sitting in front of the fireplace in their room, London, December 1957. Photo by Philippe Le Tellier. |
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Sophia Loren and Carlo Ponti walking on street and chatting during their vacation in Paris, January 1958. Photo by Jack Garofalo. |
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Carlo Ponti and Sophia Loren waiting in the corridor of their hotel during their vacation in Paris, January 1958. Photo by Jack Garofalo. |
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Sophia Loren kissing Carlo Ponti's cheek, in front of them is the Volpi Cup of Best Actress, during their vacation at Saint-Tropez, September 1958. Photo by Jack Garofalo. |
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Carlo Ponti busses cheek of Sophia Loren after their arrival at International Airport from Paris, New York, 1960s. Photo by Ed Giorandino. |
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Carlo Ponti affectionately nuzzling wife Sophia Loren on street, June 1961. Photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt for LIFE. |
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Carlo Ponti holding wife Sofia Loren's foot on a motorboat trip offing Capri, 1961. Photo by Pierluigi Praturlon. |
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Sophia Loren and Carlo Ponti lying on a couch in their villa, Italy, June 1964. Photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt for LIFE. |
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Carlo Ponti on the terrace while Sophia Loren talks to him from above, July 1964. Photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt for LIFE. |
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Sophia Loren chatting with husband Carlo Ponti on the set of 'Operation Crossbow' at the Elstree Studios, UK, November 1964. Photo by Giorgio Lotti. |
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Sophia Loren and Carlo Ponti affectionately linking their arms at an event, November 1965. Photo by Bettmann. |
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Carlo Ponti and Sophia Loren sitting at a restaurant table surrounded by their family, October 1966. Photo by Jean-Claude Deutsch. |
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Carlo Ponti with wife Sophia Loren at the premiere of their latest film 'C'era una volta...' at the San Carlo Theatre, Naples, October 1967. Photo by Keystone. |
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Carlo Ponti with wife Sophia Loren showing their baby son Carlo Ponti Jr. to the press, in the maternity in Geneva, 1969. Photo by Christian Simonpietri. |
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Sophia Loren, Carlo Ponti and their son Carlo Ponti Jr. at the maternity hospital in Geneva, 1969. Photo by Keystone-France. |
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Carlo Ponti standing next to wife Sophia Loren, who was holding their son Carlo Ponti Jr., at the clinic, 1969. Photo by Francois Gragnon. |
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Sophia Loren and husband Carlo Ponti strolling their newborn son, Carlo Ponti, Jr. in baby carriage through park near their villa, 1969. Photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt-LIFE. |
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Sophia Loren holds her young son Carlo Ponti Jr. watched by husband Carlo Ponti before boarding the plane at Rome for New York, September 1970. Photo by Popperfoto. |
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Carlo Ponti and Sophia Loren at the 29th Cannes Film Festival, May 1976. Photo by Pool Ginfray. |
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Carlo Ponti and Sophia Loren with their sons Carlo Jr. and Eduardo playing at their home, 1976. Photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt for LIFE. |
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Carlo Ponti and Sophia Loren with their sons Carlo Jr. and Eduardo in their Paris apartment, December 1978. Photo by Francois Gragnon. |
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Carlo Ponti puts a kiss on wife Sophia Loren's cheek, Loren is here to receive the French Legion of Honor, 1991. Photo by Bertrand Rindoff Petroff. |
If she was as happy in life as the fotos suggest then I'm happy for her. Loved her in her films.
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