Producers quickly took notice of the radiant newcomer, but behind Claudia Cardinale’s poised image was a painful secret—she
was pregnant after a traumatic experience with an older man. She declined most roles until producer Franco Cristaldi offered
her fame and protection. In 2017, Cardinale opened up about the hardship she had endured as a teenager. Rather than letting it
define her, she chose to raise her child and continue pursuing her career, even as the film industry preferred its stars to appear
flawless and untouched by adversity. “It was terrible,” she said,
“but the most beautiful thing is that my wonderful Patrick was born from that moment
