Being of Italian heritage myself, the name Gina Lollobrigida was often shared around my grandparent’s table as an example of how “Italians do it better”. An iconic movie star, Italian beauty and style icon, my grandparents likely knew Lollobrigida through her films, most of which were made during the 50s and 60s.
After Lollobrigida’s film career slowed down in the 70s, she took up sculpting again, a medium which she once studied (alongside painting) before becoming an actress. She was also a successful photojournalist, photographing everything from the former President of Cuba, Fidel Castro, to everyday Roman street life.I recently stumbled across a signed copy of one of Lollobrigida’s photography books, Italia Mia, which showcased the latter. Leafing through the 1973 publication, I was struck by the scenes the actress-turned-photographer captured. Among my favourites was this double page insert showing the common intersection of religious life and Romans going about their business.
This is Lollobrigida’s Italy, as perceived through her camera. The 200 photos selected from thousands Lollobrigida took, accompanied by her choice annotations, provide a glimpse inside the icon’s mind - the places, the people and the moments that inspired her. Pictures of everyday Italians conversing and commuting sit happily alongside snapshots of Lollobrigida’s acquaintances - Valentino and Audrey Hepburn among them.
It’s easy to see why my grandparents spoke so highly of Lollobrigida. She was an icon in front of and behind the camera.
Gina Lollobrigida passed away on 16 January 2023 at the age of 95.