An Unforgettable Encounter with Italy’s Timeless Icon — Sophia Loren
What an unforgettable moment!
On a magical spring evening in Las Vegas in 2016, I had the incredible honor of meeting the Sophia Loren—Italy’s cinematic icon and a true legend of the silver screen. Even days later, I’m still walking on air! Picture this: a starstruck girl—me!—kissing Miss Loren on both cheeks, as is tradition in Italy, and speaking to her in her native tongue. Someone pinch me—this must be a dream!
A Timeless Elegance
Meeting Sophia Loren in person was nothing short of magical. At 81, she remains as stunning and graceful as ever, exuding the same elegance that lit up the screen alongside legends like Marcello Mastroianni, Cary Grant, and Clark Gable. Tall, poised, and radiating dignity, Sophia captivated the room just as she has captivated audiences for decades.
Un sogno diventa realtà—a dream come true.
An Evening With Sophia
The occasion? Her one-woman show, “An Evening with Sophia,” held at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. Seated in the second row, I was close enough to feel the warmth of her presence as she shared personal stories and anecdotes from her illustrious life and career. Sophia’s charm was effortless—shy yet self-deprecating, funny, and entirely authentic. She spoke primarily in English but often slipped into Italian, flashing that iconic smile as she confessed, “I like to speak Italian!” At times, she even turned to the audience for help translating a word, making us all feel like cherished friends rather than spectators.
Cary Grant and a Legacy of Stories
During the show, Sophia reminisced about her friendships, career highlights, and cherished moments on set. Watching her watch herself in classic film clips—beaming when Marcello Mastroianni appeared and chuckling at his lines—was more captivating than the scenes themselves.
One poignant story stood out: her close bond with Cary Grant. He had encouraged her years ago to create a one-woman show, believing she had the warmth and charisma to connect deeply with audiences. Sophia admitted she was hesitant at first, self-critical and shy, but eventually found the courage. Reflecting on his advice, she laughed and said, “I need to tell myself: Shut up, Sophia. Be wise and just do it!” I couldn’t agree more—she was incredible.
A Private Reception with a Legend
After the show, a select group was invited to a private reception with prosecco and wine. When Sophia arrived, she greeted everyone with grace and genuine warmth. When it was my turn, I introduced myself, kissed her on both cheeks, and told her in Italian that meeting her was a lifelong dream come true. I even presented her with a small gift and shared a bit about my novel, “Dreaming Sophia,” which was partially inspired by her courage and legacy.
The moment became surreal when I realized how deeply our dreams aligned. During her show, she had looked out at the audience and said: “I believe in dreams. Dreams become reality.” My heart skipped a beat—her words echoed the central theme of my novel.
Io credo nei sogni. I sogni diventano realtà.
I believe in dreams. Dreams become reality.
Read the novel that was inspired by Sophia Loren!
Dreaming Sophia
Dreaming Sophia is a magical look into Italy, language, art, and culture. It is a story about turning dreams into reality and learning to walk the fine line between fact and fantasy. When tragedy strikes, Sophia finds herself alone in the world, without direction and fearful of loving again. With only her vivid imagination to guide her, she begins a journey that will take her from the vineyards in Sonoma, California to a grad school in Philadelphia and, eventually, to Italy: Florence, Lucca, Rome, Verona, Venice, and Val d’Orcia. Through dreamlike encounters, Sophia meets Italian personalities—princes, poets, duchesses, artists, and film stars— who give her advice to help put her life back together. Following a path that takes her from grief to joy, she discovers the source of her creativity and learns to love again, turning her dreams into reality.
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