Sophia Loren: A Life of⁣ Discipline and ⁣Passion

Director Krasimir⁣ Ivanov shares his experiences with the legendary actress Sophia ⁢Loren, discussing her life, career, and personal ⁤struggles.

A Conversation with Sophia ‍Loren

– How did you congratulate Sophia Loren on her ​90th birthday,‍ Mr. Ivanov?

– I called her a few ​days ago because I knew⁣ she would be very busy ⁤on the day itself. Although this is not done out‍ of superstition, but we heard ⁣each other without greeting each other. She knew what I was calling for. I hadn’t heard from⁢ her in a ​long time.​ She ⁤said she was in ⁤perfect shape, ​she had⁣ never felt so young ​and⁢ so fit.

She thinks ⁣about the‌ future, about the ​next step in life, what awaits her. Such optimism and skin for life… I guess that’s how you get to 90, not with​ groans and moans. She ⁣broke⁣ her hip joint last year at this time,‌ which at ​such an⁢ age usually leads to a⁣ fatal end, but ⁣not​ for her – ⁢after 6 months she was already celebrating on ​the⁢ front line. There are great doctors in ‍Switzerland.

Her Secret to a ​Long and Healthy Life

– At 90, she looks great. What⁣ is her secret?

– Throughout her life ⁤she supported herself and had military ⁣discipline. Every ⁢day is about diet. I have been‌ to lunch and dinners several times, she invited me, the pizzas she made for me were 4-5 cm in⁣ diameter. He brought two small pizzas and ‍said, “Honey, I​ have⁢ one.”⁣ I asked her where the nearest restaurant was to go ⁣to⁤ get hired. To this day,⁤ she does gymnastics, she doesn’t ⁤go ⁤to the gym, and when she gets up in the morning, ⁤she does exercises in bed by raising and lowering her legs.

A Lasting Friendship

– How did you actually meet?

– ‍I⁣ was working as⁤ an assistant⁢ in a⁣ big TV production years ago and I had to accompany⁢ her from the hotel to the set. When she saw me, ⁣she asked where you ⁤were from. I call ⁢- Bulgarian. And her: for a ​Bulgarian, you are our boy, in Neapolitan. Because I’m dark.

She is a professional through and through. She is one of⁤ the last great stars of the golden cinema. We were recently looking for a contemporary global star for ⁣a ⁤campaign and found that there wasn’t one after Monica⁢ Bellucci’s generation.

A Personal Archive

– What else is in this warehouse?

– I got‌ emotional at times because I love ​Italian ⁤cinema. We open a box and in it a⁤ bra,⁤ jumpsuit, terrycloth cape, ankle socks with garter clips. I immediately guessed that this was the outfit from Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow where she strips in ‍front of Marcello Mastroianni.

She keeps the ‍dress⁣ from The Little Mermaid, for which she won an‍ Oscar,‍ quite tattered, but she’s ‍got it. We also found the⁣ biggest collector in Italy‍ of ⁣everything to do ‌with Sofia Loren from the 40’s.

A Favorite Film

– Do you have a‍ favorite⁣ film of hers?

– “Sunflowers”, filmed in the Soviet⁣ Union, played with Marcello Mastroianni. It tells ‍the story of a ‍woman whose ‌husband goes to fight with Italy and Germany against​ Russia during​ the Second World War. ‍Mastroianni plays a soldier. A Russian woman finds him almost frozen and revives​ him.

Advice from Sophia⁣ Loren

– What advice did she give you?

– There are many of them. It’s like an advice‌ book. Especially when it comes to cooking, wait⁤ and see. How to cook the pasta, how to cook the pizza, the⁤ dough… there is no compromise‌ there. He gave me a lot of advice. We sit⁣ down and⁣ he starts talking to me. Stoicism and discipline are ⁤the most important things I learned from her.