RIP GINA LOLLOBRIGIDA

1927 – 2023

Luigia “Gina” Lollobrigida was born in Subiaco, Italy, and became one of the biggest sex symbols of the 1950s and 1960s. As an actress, she was put under contract by Howard Hughes, but decided not to stay in America. Her breakthrough film came in 1953′s Beat The Devil. Gina was tagged “The Most Beautiful Woman in the World”, after her signature movie Beautiful But Dangerous (1955). 

Gina embodied the prototype of Italian beauty. Her earthy looks and short “tossed salad” hairdo were especially influential and, in fact, there’s a type of curly lettuce named “Lollo” in honor of her hairdo.

At the 1968 Golden Globe Awards, Lucy was nominated for Yours, Mine and Ours and Gina for Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell. Barbra Streisand took home the award for Funny Girl.

Although she never acted opposite Lucille Ball, her name was mentioned on “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show”. 

In “The Black Wig” (1954), Ricky sarcastically calls his new raven-haired wife Lucille Magnani, a nod to Italian film actress Anna Magnani. Although Gina Lollobrigida is not included in the dialogue, she was undoubtedly an influence. The episode was filmed just five weeks after Lollobrigida was on the cover of Look about her hairstyle. 

In “Staten Island Ferry” (1956), Lucy and Ethel are studying languages in preparation for their European trip. Lucy is studying French, while Ethel is learning Italian. 

ETHEL: “By the time we get to Italy, you won’t be able to tell me from Gina Lollobrigida.”  

In “Lucy’s Italian Movie” (1956), Fred hogs more than his share of the sleeper seat on their overnight train trip to Rome. 

ETHEL: “Fred!  Fred!  Wake up, sleeping beauty.”

LUCY: “You couldn’t wake him up with a stick of dynamite.”

ETHEL: “I’ve got an idea. (yells) Look!  There goes Gina Lollobrigida!” 

FRED: (immediately jumping up from his seat): “Where?  Where?  Where?”

Starting with “Lucy Hunts Uranium” (1957), Lucille Ball sported a new hairstyle called the ‘layered artichoke look,’ that stylist Irma Kusely said was influenced by Gina Lollobrigida, among others. When Lucy reaches for a hatbox (in which she’s hidden her Geiger counter) Ethel mistakenly guesses: “Oh, you’ve bought a new hat to go with your new hairdo?”    

When “Lucy Dates Dean Martin” (1966) his stunt man Eddie Feldman (also played by Martin) says that while Lucy is attractive, she is no Gina Lollobrigida.

In 1968′s “Guess Who Owes Lucy $23.50″ Lucy pretends to be a made-up Italian film star named Gina Linguini, who bears more than a passing resemblance to Gina Lollobrigida.

She appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1982 Bob Hope Special “Women Loved: Beautiful But Funny.” By this time, Lollobrigida had all but retired from acting, becoming a respected photojournalist. 

Gina Lollobrigida died in Rome at the age of 95.