Sophia Loren: Her Own Story

In 1933, Romilda Villani wins a Greta Garbo look-alike contest, a moment that foreshadows Sophia Loren's future fame. She is prevented by her parents from collecting the prize, which would have included a trip to America and a screen test. The disappointment fuels her drive to seek an acting career.

Angry and bitter, Romilda leaves home for Rome in search of acting work. There she meets a charming rake, Riccardo Scicolone, and moves in with him. The move marks the start of a turbulent romance that will shape Sophia's early life.

Romilda becomes pregnant by Riccardo, but he refuses to marry her. She returns home to her family in disgrace, bringing Sophia as an infant and beginning a long, complicated family saga.

Despite the initial broken engagement, Romilda and Riccardo have a second child, Maria, continuing the unstable relationship. The family life remains difficult as they endure hardship and social stigma.

During the Second World War, the Villani family is forced to flee to Naples, where they endure bombing and scarcity. The young Sophia is injured by shrapnel that hits her chin, a trauma she carries with her. The war years test their resilience and shape Sophia's adolescence.

After the worst of the bombing, the family returns to Pozzuoli and Romilda turns their living room into a cafe, singing for patrons—mostly soldiers—to make a living. The makeshift venue becomes a backdrop for Sophia to observe performance and ambition. This period cements Romilda's dream of molding Sophia's career.

As the years pass, Sophia grows into a beautiful yet shy teenager. Romilda shields her from potential suitors while pushing her toward acting, culminating in a beauty contest that offers a path toward Rome. The prize includes a trip and opportunities to start a professional pursuit.

Sophia wins second prize in the beauty contest, which includes a trip to Rome and free acting lessons. She begins taking small steps toward an acting career, auditioning for roles and seeking opportunities in the Italian film scene. The seeds of stardom start to sprout.

At a restaurant in Rome, Sophia meets Carlo Ponti, who begins to manage her career with the support of Vittorio De Sica. With their guidance, she lands her first big part in The Gold of Naples, opening doors to larger roles. This marks the transition from promise to rising star.

Carlo remains married, and Sophia also attracts interest from Cary Grant. When Carlo sees a possible divorce, they marry by proxy in Mexico, a union born of ambition and constrained by law. The arrangement sparks controversy and complicates their future.

Sophia stars in Two Women, earning an Academy Award nomination for her role while discovering she is pregnant. She experiences a miscarriage, a devastating setback that shadows her triumphs and affects her personally and professionally. Her career continues to climb despite the loss.

The proxy marriage is deemed illegal, prompting a plan to become French citizens and pursue divorce so they can marry legally. They cannot safely return to Italy until legal changes occur. She later experiences another pregnancy and welcomes a healthy baby boy, a moment of relief and renewed security for Sophia and Carlo.