Sophia Loren’s Whirlwind Romance with Cary Grant Revisited on Her 90th Birthday
Loren was born in Rome on September 20, 1934
Sophia Loren’s whirlwind romance with Cary Grant is being revisited on her 90th Birthday.
Italian star Sophia Loren, a cinema icon with two Oscars to her name in Hollywood, celebrates her 90th birthday in Rome on Friday, September 20.
As reported, Loren will blow out her 90 candles at a private party in a luxury hotel in the historic centre of the Italian capital.
As Sophia Loren turns 90, the iconic Italian actress reflects on a life filled with cinematic achievements, legendary roles, and passionate romances, none more talked about than her brief yet intense relationship with Hollywood heartthrob Cary Grant.
Their whirlwind romance, which blossomed on the set of the 1957 film The Pride and the Passion, remains one of the most iconic love stories in Hollywood history.
The two divas helped define film in the 20th century, becoming international cultural icons and revered by millions around the world.
During her career, Loren played opposite the greatest actors of the day, from Anthony Quinn and Clark Gable to Marlon Brando, Cary Grant, Peter Sellers, John Wayne and Frank Sinatra.
Despite the significant 30-year age gap, Grant, already a major star, was captivated by Loren’s beauty, charisma, and undeniable talent. The chemistry between them on and off-screen was palpable, sparking rumours that transcended their professional relationship. At the time, Loren was in her early 20s and already becoming a global sensation, while Grant, in his 50s, found himself hopelessly enamoured with the rising star.
Grant, who was unhappily married to his third wife, actress Betsy Drake, even proposed to Loren during the filming, despite knowing she was involved with Italian film producer Carlo Ponti. Loren faced a difficult decision, torn between the excitement of Grant’s affection and her loyalty to Ponti, whom she would later marry in 1966 after he obtained a divorce from his first wife.
In 2014 upon turning 80, she published her memoir, “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow”.
Reflecting on this chapter of her life, Loren has always spoken fondly of Grant, describing him as kind, charming, and deeply romantic. However, ultimately, she chose Ponti, with whom she would share a lifelong partnership and two children.
In a 2014 interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Loren shared why she couldn’t choose Grant over Ponti.
“Cary belonged to another world in America,” she said. “I felt that I would never fit in there. I would never have a future there because of my nationality. I was scared to change completely in life without knowing if this relationship or quasi-relationship was going on.”
She said that she saw him a couple more times over the years, including when he visited the set of Two Women.
“One day he called me in New York where I was for another film. ‘How are you?’ ‘I’m fine,’ I said. ‘Why are you calling?’ And he said, ‘Because I wanted to say ciao,'” Loren shared. “That was it. He died. He must have known he was dying.”
Grant died at the age of 82 in 1986. She remained married to Ponti until he died in 2007.
Her last film appearance was in 2020’s “The Life Ahead”, directed by her son Edoardo Ponti.
As Loren celebrates her milestone 90th birthday, the romance with Cary Grant remains a fascinating footnote in her remarkable journey—an affair that, though fleeting, added another layer to the timeless allure of one of cinema’s greatest stars.
