As Sophia Loren celebrates her 90th birthday, her legendary love affair with Cary Grant from the late 1950s has once again captured public interest. Loren and Grant met while filming *The Pride and the Passion* in 1957, where their undeniable chemistry quickly blossomed into a romantic relationship. However, their connection was complicated by Grant’s marriage to his third wife, Betsy Drake, and Loren’s engagement to Italian director Carlo Ponti.
At just 23, Loren was captivated by Grant’s charm and sophistication, and their affair became so intense that Grant even proposed to her. Yet Loren found herself torn between her burgeoning Hollywood career and her affection for Ponti, who was dealing with the complexities of divorcing his first wife. Reflecting on her choice, Loren later remarked, “I had to make a choice. Carlo was Italian; he belonged to my world… I know it was the right thing to do, for me.”
Despite Grant’s persistent affection, expressed through love letters and extravagant gifts, Loren ultimately decided to remain with Ponti, marrying him in 1966. Their enduring partnership lasted until Ponti’s death in 2007. As Loren turns 90, her memories of Grant remain a captivating chapter in her life, but her deep love for Ponti truly defined her personal journey.
