Producers quickly took notice of the radiant newcomer,
but behind Claudia Cardinale’s poised image was a painful secret—
she was pregnant after a violent assault by an older man.
She declined most roles until producer
Franco Cristaldi offered her fame and protection, In 2017,
Cardinale spoke candidly about the sexual
assault she had endured as a teenager.
Rather than being broken by the experience,
she chose to raise her child and pursue her career,
even while being silenced by an industry
that preferred its stars flawless and uncomplicated.
“It was terrible,” she said,
“but the most beautiful thing
is that my wonderful Patrick was born from that violence
