Sophia At 84 'I Look Fantastic – Everyone Says So!'

The Screen Siren Is Still Living La Dolce Vita

Glamour, intrigue, drama, style – the life of Sophia Loren reads like one of the classic Hollywood dramas she once starred in.

But though she’s still a beauty – “I look fantastic, everyone says so!” she insists with a laugh – these days the simple things in life bring her the most joy.

The legendary Italian screen siren insists that although life’s a little slower now, she definitely hasn’t retired, thank you very much. But it’s family first, with the star prioritising time with her sons, Carlo (50) and Edoardo (46), and her four grandchildren.

“The best place for me is when I am with my children and their families,” the actress says, giving a rare interview.

“It is something that I really cherish. Anytime I can, I pick up a plane and go to them to see the children grow, and to see the family being very happy. It’s the life of the mother, of a grandmother in this sense. Yes, absolutely – family first.”

In fact, out of everything she’s achieved in her 84 years, Sophia is most proud of her children – “my wanting to have children, at any cost... And now I have them, I know why – because it was the only way for me to be happy.”

Her sons have been the joys of her life – Carlo, named for his father, Carlo Ponti senior, is a conductor who founded the Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra, and Edoardo is an award-winning film director.