National Arts Awards 2015: Sophia Loren

Carolyn Clark Powers Lifetime Achievement Award In 1991 Sophia Loren received an Honorary Academy Award for her body of work and was declared “one of world cinema’s greatest treasures.” Born in Rome, Italy, she grew up in the struggling city of Pozzuoli during World War II. Her life took an unexpected turn when as a teenager, she entered a beauty contest and caught the attention of film producer Carlo Ponti, whom she later married and under whose guidance she appeared as an extra in 10 films beginning in 1950, before working her way up to supporting roles. By her late teens, she was playing lead roles in many Italian features. In 1957, she embarked on a successful acting career in the U.S., starring in such films as Legend of the Lost with John Wayne and The Pride and the Passion with Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra. For the next three years she also starred in Desire Under the Elms with Anthony Perkins, The Key with William Holden, The Black Orchid with Anthony Quinn, It Started in Naples with Cla