Romana-1954, Italian movie film advertising

Gina Lollobrigida, Italian actress and professional photographer whose earthy sexuality helped promote her to international film stardom in the 1950s and ’60s. Lollobrigida’s father was a furniture maker in Subiaco, but during World War II the family moved to Rome. Though she studied painting and sculpture, her modeling career under the name Diana Loris helped bring her to the attention of Italian directors. In addition, she won a number of European beauty contests prior to her first motion-picture appearance, in Aquila nera (1946; Return of the Black Eagle). Lollobrigida’s initial roles were small, but she began playing leading parts in 1949, and by the early 1950s her film status in Europe was set. Widely acclaimed throughout the Continent as “La Lollo,” she first came to international attention in the French swashbuckler Fanfan la Tulipe (1952). She made her English-language movie debut in John Huston’s farce Beat the Devil (1953), starring with Humphrey Bogart and Jennifer Jones. Lollobrigida's style was characterized by her curvaceous figure, which she accentuated with form-fitting dresses and bold jewelry. She often wore low-cut dresses that showcased her ample cleavage, and she was not afraid to take risks with her fashion choices. Her signature hairstyle was a classic updo, which added a touch of elegance to her overall look.