Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida has died at the age of 95.
As one of the most high-profile international actors from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema, the late star enjoyed a successful career on screen over the years before pursuing her passions in politics and photography.
Born Luigia Lollobrigida in Subiaco, Gina took part in several beauty contests before going on to appearing in Italian films in minor roles.
Her big break came in 1947 when she entered the Miss Italia pageant and came in third place - giving her fame and exposure on a national level.
Gina went on to appear alongside the likes of Frank Sinatra, Rock Hudson and Errol Flynn throughout her film career, and starred in movies such as Beat the Devil, Soloman and Mrs Campbell.
After a series of roles in European films, including a Bafta-winning turn in Bread, Love and Dreams, it was Gina's Lollobrigida’s performance in 1953’s Beat the Devil opposite Humphrey Bogart that made her an international star.
In addition to acting, Gina also enjoyed a career in photojournalism - famously once securing an exclusive interview with late Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
Other famous subjects of her photography work included Henry Kissinger, Yuri Gagarin, Grace Kelly and many more globally-known figures.
Gina also attempted to pursue a career in politics during her later years - unsuccessfully running for election to the European Parliament as a candidate for The Democrats, a party led by Romano Prodi, in 1999.
"I’ve never been involved in politics," she said at the time, "but when I got the offer I said ‘yes’ immediately … It’s only afterward that I thought about why this was a good thing. I don’t know how many votes I need. I don’t know anything."
Last year, at the age of 95, the late actress tried to win a seat in the Senate of the Republic, by standing for election as candidate for the Sovereign and Popular Italy (ISP), a newly-founded Eurosceptic alliance opposed to Mario Draghi. The party failed to reach the 3% electoral threshold.
Gina made her final film in 1997, telling Parade in April 2000: "I studied painting and sculpting at school and became an actress by mistake ... I've had many lovers and still have romances. I am very spoiled. All my life, I've had too many admirers."
In 2013, the multi-talented star raised $5million for stem-cell therapy research when she sold her extensive jewellery collection.
Gina died in a Rome clinic, her former lawyer Giulia Citani told the Reuters news agency.
"Farewell to the Italian screen goddess and one of the biggest stars of European cinema in the 1950s and 60s, the legendary Gina Lollobrigida, who passed away at the age of 95. R.I.P," one fan wrote online as news of her death broke today.
Another wrote: "RIP Gina Lollobrigida. What a true beauty, and a siren of the screen. Sad to hear she's passed away."
Gina is survived by her son Andrea Milko, who she shared with ex-husband Milko Skofic.
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