Producers quickly took notice of the radiant newcomer, but behind Claudia Cardinale’s poised image was a painful secret—she was pregnant after a violent assault by an older man. She declined most roles until producer Franco Cristaldi offered her fame and protection, In 2017,
Cardinale spoke candidly about the sexual assault she had endured as a teenager. Rather than being broken by the experience, she chose to raise her child and pursue her career,
even while being silenced by an industry that preferred its stars flawless and uncomplicated. “It was terrible,” she said,
“but the most beautiful thing is that my wonderful Patrick was born from that violence
