Screen legend Sophia Loren on the road to recovery following recent fall

Renowned actress Sophia Loren is making steady progress on her path to recovery following a recent fall at her home in Geneva, Switzerland.

The 89-year-old film icon, beloved for her decades-long contribution to cinema, was rushed into emergency surgery following a fall at her home in Switzerland on Sunday, September 24.

The revered Italian actress, who turned 89 on September 20th, had a fall in her bathroom that caused multiple hip and femur fractures, requiring surgery, a trusted source close to the actress told The Hollywood Reporter. 

While news of the incident triggered concern from many around the world, her adoring fanbase can breathe easy after it was revealed that the screen siren is on the road to recovery.

“Everything [is] going well,” her manager, Carlo Giuisti, tells People.

“At least a few months of rehabilitation are needed.”

Giusti also mentioned that the actress’s two sons, Carlo Ponti Jr., aged 54, and Edoardo Ponti, aged 50, are by her side in Switzerland, providing support and comfort as she recuperates from her injuries.

Honoured by the American Film Institute as one of classical Hollywood cinema’s most illustrious stars, Loren stands as one of the few enduring luminaries from that golden era. Remarkably, Loren remains the sole living luminary to grace AFI’s esteemed list of the 50 greatest stars in American film history, holding the distinguished 21st position.

Loren’s acting journey began at just sixteen in 1950 after she participated in a beauty pageant. Initially, she took on minor roles and bit parts in the early 1950s. However, her career really took off in 1956 when she signed a pivotal five-picture contract with Paramount, propelling her into the international spotlight. Notable films from this period include The Pride and the Passion, Houseboat, and It Started in Naples. Throughout the 1950s, Loren’s portrayals often featured a liberated persona, establishing her as a renowned sex symbol of the era.

Loren’s crowning achievement came with her role as Cesira in the 1961 film Two Women, directed by Vittorio De Sica. This performance earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress, marking the first time an actor received an Oscar for a non-English-language role. She also holds the record for seven David di Donatello Awards for Best Actress, spanning films such as Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (1963), Marriage Italian Style (1964, which also earned her a second Oscar nomination), Sunflower (1970), The Voyage (1974), A Special Day (1977), and The Life Ahead (2020).

Loren’s accolades extend to five special Golden Globes (including the Cecil B. DeMille Award), a BAFTA Award, a Laurel Award, a Grammy Award, the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival, and the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Her lifetime achievements were further recognised in 1991 when she received the prestigious Academy Honorary Award.