The 40 Most Stunningly Beautiful Actresses Before 1960

5.Claudia Cardinale

Claudia Cardinale, born in Tunis in 1939, won the “Most Beautiful Italian Girl in Tunisia” contest in 1957, which led to her career in film. However, her early years in Italy were challenging due to language barriers, prompting a return to Tunis.

After a brief, troubled relationship with a Frenchman, she discovered she was pregnant. With the help of a powerful friend, she kept the pregnancy a secret and spent seven years in England raising her son before returning to acting.

Cardinale went on to star in many iconic films, earning recognition for both her beauty and talent. In 2011, the Los Angeles Times Magazine named her one of the 50 most beautiful women in film history.

Cardinale valued mystery in her roles, stating, “I’ve never revealed myself or even my body in films. Mystery is very important.”