Claudia Cardinale

Claudia Cardinale's fascinating life can be read in her autobiography "Moi Claudia, Toi Claudia" which unfortunately is not available in English. Things that suggest the rumor is untrue are that the media had reason to tarnish Leigh and Curtis' reputations at that time, since their careers were no longer hugely successful. She currently calls Paris her home. Facts that point to the likelihood of the rumor's truth is that Curtis underwent mysterious surgeries and "complications" shortly after her birth, as well as her unisex name. Claudia Cardinale is a liberal with strong political convictions (She is a leftist involved in pro-women and pro-gay issues). She has also frequently stated that she is proud of her Arab heritage (She was born in Tunis) and is involved in many humanitarian causes. The supposition usually refers to androgen insensitivity syndrome. She has been married only once to the producer Franco Cristaldi but has been living with film director Pasquale Squitieri since 1975, and has two children ( Claudia Jr from Squitieri and her eldest son Patrick born out of wedlock from a mysterious Frenchman when the actress was only 18 and who was adopted by Cristaldi later on). There is much speculation, which has sometimes even been alleged in high school and college biology courses, that Curtis was born an intersexual; but it is unknown whether this is an urban legend or fact.

Cardinale remains active in European cinema, her later films include Qui comincia l'avventura (1975), Fitzcarraldo (1982), La Storia (1985) and Un homme amoureux (1987). Past Honorees of this organization have included Sir Anthony Hopkins; the 2005 honoree will be Angela Lansbury. Other great performances by Cardinale include Valerio Zurlini's "Girl With A Suitcase" and Mauro Bolognini's "Libera". Curtis was Guest of Honor at the 11th annual Gala and Fundraiser in 2003 for Women in Recovery, Inc., a Venice, CA-based non-profit organization offering a live-in, 12-Step program of rehabilitation for women in need. It is a heartbreaking film with a stellar performance by Cardinale. Today, Jamie Lee Curtis also takes time to support various philanthropic groups. In Comencini's "La Storia" ,Cardinale plays a widow raising a son during WW2. In time for the Holiday Season of 2004, Curtis starred opposite Tim Allen in Christmas with the Kranks..

Her performance in Visconti's underrated " Sandra/Of A Thousand Delights" is mesmerizing playing a Holocaust survivor with an incestuous relationship with her brother. The movie was filmed at Palisades High School in Pacific Palisades, CA., nearby where Curtis and Guest make their home with their children. She has appeared in more good European movies than most of her contemporaries. Recent successful film roles for Curtis have included Disney's Freaky Friday (2003), opposite Lindsay Lohan. Claudia Cardinale has proved herself to be one of Europe's most successful and endurable movie stars. Curtis and Guest have two adopted children, Annie and Thomas. Her Hollywood films include Circus World (1964), The Pink Panther (1964) and The Hell With Heroes (1968). She married the actor Christopher Guest in 1984, and became known as Lady Haden-Guest when her husband inherited the title of Baron Haden-Guest in 1996.

She attempted halfheartedly to break into the US market but was let down by her lack of interest in leaving Europe for extended periods of time . Jamie Lee Curtis has compiled a body of work which covers every type of genre, from comedy to drama to horror. Claudia Cardinale became an international superstar with a mix of breathtaking beauty,a throaty distinct voice and impressive dramatic skills.One has to watch her Italian and French movies to really appreciate her dramatic prowess. She has a sister named Kelly Curtis, who is also an actress. Throughout the 1960s she appeared in many Italian or Italian co-financed films including Luchino Visconti's Il Gattopardo (The Leopard, 1963), Rocco e i suoi fratelli (1963), Federico Fellini's 8½ and Sergio Leone's epic Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). She is known as a "scream queen" for arguably her most memorable role, that of Laurie Strode in the Halloween series (#'s I, II and 7 and 8). Her early career was largely managed by producer Franco Cristaldi. She is the daughter of Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh.

She made her film debut in Goha (1958) and later that year had a role in the minor international success I Soliti ignoti. Jamie Lee Curtis, Baroness Haden-Guest (born November 22, 1958) is an American film actress born in Los Angeles, California. She had her break into films after winning a Tunisian beauty contest in 1957. Jamie Lee Curtis (http://www.snopes.com/movies/actors/jamie.htm) on Snopes.com. Claudia Cardinale was born Claude Josephine Rose Cardin. IMDb filmography (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000130/). Claudia Cardinale (born Good Friday April 15, 1938) is an actress born in Tunis, Tunisia to Italian parents. True Lies (1994) $1,550,000.

Halloween: Resurrection (2002) $3,000,000. Halloween II (1981) $100,000. Halloween (1978) $8,000. Christmas with the Kranks (2004).

Freaky Friday (2003). Halloween: Resurrection (2002). The Tailor of Panama (2001). Drowning Mona (2000).

Halloween: H20 (1998). Fierce Creatures (1997). House Arrest (1996). True Lies (1994).

Forever Young (1992). My Girl (1991). Blue Steel (1990). Dominick and Eugene (1988).

A Fish Called Wanda (1988). Amazing Grace and Chuck (1987). Perfect (1985). Trading Places (1983).

Halloween II (1981). Prom Night (1980). The Fog (1980). Halloween (1978).