When Claudia Cardinale Rejected Mastroianni’s and Delon’s Courtship

Named among the 50 most beautiful women in the world by the Los Angeles Times Magazine, Italian-Tunisian actress Claudia Cardinale was, without any doubt, one of the brightest movie stars during 60’s and 70’s.

It appears she also broke many hearts on the set of her films. During the filming of Il bell’Antonio, in 1960, her co-star Marcello Mastroianni fell in love with her, but she rejected him, considering him to be one of those actors who cannot help but fall in love with their co-stars. Mastroianni insisted that his feelings were genuine, even after many years. The genuine empathy between them was evident in the film.

“Cinema is like love, you have to give yourself over to it to make it work.”

Claudia Cardinale

Later, in 1962, she got to know Alain Delon on the set of The Leopard, directed by Luchino Visconti.

“You know, in Sicily [set of the film], all the women were in love with him. He was so handsome. But we always had a marvellous relationship till now.”

Cardinale about Alain Delon

He fell in love with her during the shootings of the film, but she didn’t fall for him, considering him just a friend and colleague. However, their friendship lasted many years without (so it seems, at least) any resentment.