Distressing untold story of Claudia Cardinale's Hollywood struggles

Claudia Cardinale, who died on September, 24, 2025 at the age of 57, often hailed as one of the most iconic actresses of European cinema, carved her name into film history with performances in classics like The Leopard (1963), Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), and 8½ (1963).

Cardinale, rightfully, should have been one of the most appreciated actresses of Hollywood, but her undeniable beauty and talent meant nothing and went unacknowledged.

The consequences of casting

Typecasting for international actresses in Hollywood during the 1960s was almost an unspoken rule. The Pink Panther star, along with her exotic features, was placed in the ‘mysterious beauties’ roles. Unlike her contemporaries such as Sophia Loren and Brigitte Bardot, the mother of two scarcely was able to work in leading roles in a Hollywood film.

Limited opportunities in America

Hollywood appreciated her work, but was oblivious to the fact that she was being trusted with leading roles in movies such as 
the Italian actress was often brought to America for films, but her roles were either ‘supporting’ or ‘foreign starlet.’ This was the primary reason as to why she was extremely under exposed to America.

Image and language barriers

Like other actresses during her time, Cardinale was also a victim of the ‘foreign accent syndrome’. Hollywood thought her Italian accent was ‘too thick,’ therefore, she was not casted in the films as an actress, but instead dubbed.

The lasting impact

Cardinale's fame remained more concentrated in Europe, and her global fame was never a monetary acclaim because of a Hollywood stigma. Even in modern days, she is treated like a legend in world cinema and yet, in contrary, she remains excluded from Hollywood’s ‘golden lists’ of actresses. This is a testament to how her works were ‘extraordinarily’ beyond appreciated.