Claudia Cardinale, one of the brightest stars of European cinema during the 1960s and 1970s, has died at the age of 87 in Nemours, France, surrounded by her family.

Born in Tunis in 1938 to Sicilian parents, Cardinale’s career began unexpectedly when she won a beauty contest at 17, which led her to the Venice Film Festival and the attention of Italian filmmakers. Though she once dreamed of becoming a teacher, her life took a different path, ultimately making her a cinematic icon.

She rose to international fame in 1963, starring as the embodiment of youthful purity in Federico Fellini’s 8½ alongside Marcello Mastroianni, and as Angelica Sedara in Luchino Visconti’s award-winning adaptation of The Leopard. Later, she gained further recognition in Sergio Leone’s western classic Once Upon a Time in the West (1968).

Across her career, Cardinale appeared in more than 100 films and television productions, working with legendary directors in both Europe and Hollywood. Among her Hollywood projects were Blindfold (1965) with Rock Hudson, Don’t Make Waves (1967) with Tony Curtis, and Richard Brooks’ The Professionals (1966), which she considered her best American film.

Known for her striking beauty, deep voice, and commanding screen presence, Cardinale became a symbol of European cinema’s golden age. Although offered an exclusive Hollywood contract, she declined, saying, “I’m a European actress and I was going there for movies, not contracts.”

Her achievements were recognized with numerous honors, including the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival and her role as a UNESCO goodwill ambassador for women’s rights, appointed in 2000.

Cardinale is survived by her two children: one from her marriage to producer Franco Cristaldi, and another with director Pasquale Squitieri, her longtime companion.