Sophia Loren

Sophia Loren (born Sofia Villani Scicolone) -- widely recognised as Italy's most renowned and honoured actress, was the first actress of the talkie era to win an Academy Award for a non-English-speaking performance, for her portrayal of Cesira in Vittorio De Sica's “Two Women” in 1961.

Originally cast as the daughter, Loren fought against type and was re-cast as the mother; Loren's performance earned her 22 international awards for “Two Women”, including the Cannes Film Festival's best performance prize.